Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1998 11:08:08 -0800
Reply-To: Davidson <wdavidson@JPS.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Davidson <wdavidson@JPS.NET>
Subject: Fw: 88 Westie: Intermittent "Level Indicator" Lights
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
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> From: Davidson <wdavidson@jps.net>
> To: Chris Paquette <cp@IX.NETCOM.COM>
> Subject: Re: 88 Westie: Intermittent "Level Indicator" Lights
> Date: Sunday, November 22, 1998 10:42 AM
>
> Chris,
> There were quite a few posts regarding this LED indicator panel last
> August. (You can search the archives for this information.) That's when I
> had a problem with mine. But my problem was that the water level LEDs did
> not work (the green one was on all the time as I remember). Well, it
turned
> out that one of the little 12 legged component critters was blown on the
> panel AND the switches in the long rod in the water tank were blown. I
> replaced the switch rod with a new one, and someone soldered in a new
> component on the back of my LED panel for me. My guess is that while
> working on the electrical system (LED side of the fuses behind the
drivers
> seat) I caused a short that surged the power and blew these things. One
> other thing I learned is that if you're going to work on the LED
indicator
> panel you must be VERY careful to discharge any static from your body and
> tool BEFORE touching it. The panel is quite vulnerable to being fried by
> static electricity. (And all the wires leading to it.) Careful, a new
panel
> is about $175.00!!
> If you panel is fully functional at times and then everything goes out
> intermittently, my guess is that you have some loose wires or bad
> connections some place. If only certain LED's go out intermittently then
> that would give you a clue as to which wires and connectors to look at.
The
> tests given in the Bentley are to determine if the problem is the panel
or
> the wiring so you cold try these. If they all go out intermittently then
> you might check to see that the connector plug behind the LED panel is
> tight. Also check for corrosion at the connector contacts. I am no expert
> on these electrical things. I hope this has helped.
> Bill
> 90 Westy Syncro
> Lake Tahoe
>
> ----------
> > From: Chris Paquette <cp@IX.NETCOM.COM>
> > To: vanagon@VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: 88 Westie: Intermittent "Level Indicator" Lights
> > Date: Saturday, November 21, 1998 6:52 PM
> >
> > I don't know what this device is "officially" called, but what I'm
> referring
> > to is the level indicator on the camping equipment, below the stove top
> and
> > above the fridge, which indicates the level of water and battery power
> you
> > have left. Mine only works intermittently and, emboldened by successes
> in
> > recent smaller jobs I was able to do myself (with major "how to" help
> from
> > Unca Joel and others), I would like to tackle this job next.
> >
> > Anybody ever done it? I see in the Bentley that there's a section on
> > camping equipment, but it makes no mention of how to repair the level
> > indicator. When I first got the Westie, the reverse lights were not
> > working, and the mechanic showed me how this was caused by a "contact"
or
> > "relay" which was not falling into place, and I'm thinking that the
level
> > light problem might be of the same ilk.
> >
> > As I say, it works sometimes, if jiggled. I'm a big fan of the radio
and
> CD
> > player, which I tend to use when the bus is not running, so the battery
> > level indicator is something I would very much like to restore to full
> > functionality. Any tips or hints would be much appreciated.
> >
> > Chris
> > '88 Westie, Rozinante
> > Los Angeles
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