Date:         Sat, 23 Aug 1997 15:26:22 UT
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Tom Brunson <TABRUN@CLASSIC.MSN.COM>
Subject:      Re: 88 Vanagon air flow meter question

The meter cover has been factory sealed at least on all digifant (86^)
systems, using something like a hot-melt glue. This is mainly to discourage
messing around, but also to seal out dirt. Poor contact of the pot wipers does
occur anyway - I think partly due to moisture absorbtion of the lubricant
used, since most problems are in humid or wet weather.

You can cure such problems by carefully cutting out the hot-melt and removing
the cover, clean the pot wiper and contacts with a contact cleaner and
re-lubricate. I've used a trace of molycoat with good success, but something
like CAIG chemicals pro-gold contact enhancer and lubricant would be better. I
re-sealed the cover with RTV silicone, which is easy to remove when you need
to do it again. (Both my vans have been fine for three years since this
procedure.)

Tom

<snip>
>I had a 1980 model with a similar box and the black plastic cover on top,
would
>just pop off.  Mine appears to be glued on.  Does this indicate work by the
>PO or the PO's repair shop?  Should that black plastic cover be removable
>so that I can check out the resistor and wiper arm that hide inside?
>
>John Graham
'88 Westy
Charlotte NC