Date:         Mon, 7 Dec 1998 18:33:36 -0600
Reply-To:     Joshua Van Tol <jjvantol@USWEST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Joshua Van Tol <jjvantol@USWEST.NET>
Subject:      Re: was: 3 Questions Now: Speedo, brake, and headlight questions.
Comments: To: "Seth C. Bruggeman" <scbrug@MAIL.WM.EDU>, vanagon@vanagon.com
In-Reply-To:  <3.0.1.32.19981206144305.0069fa78@mail.wm.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>3 Questions resulting from a beautiful Sunday afternoon of Westy tinkering:
>
>1.  Speedometer:  My speedo reads roughly twenty to thirty mph above real
>speed.  I've lubed the cable at both ends, jiggled it around, and did
>everything short of replacing it.  Is there anyway to calibrate the speedo;
>or do I need a new cable?

There's no way a cable can make the speedo show high. Most likely you need
a new speedometer, but before you shell out the money, see if there's a
speedometer shop in your town. They're suprisingly common, and can fix this
type of problem.

>
>2.  Headlights:  My headlights are far too dim for safe operation.  I
>figure this must have something to do with a loose ground or bad connection
>somewhere--also know that my front light turn singnal bulb socket has iffy
>connections--any other ideas on increasing brightness?

Check the switch. They are of cheap construction, and often develop high
resistance with age. You should start by measuring the voltage at one of
the headlights. It should'nt be more than 0.5 volts less than the battery
voltage or so. Then just keep measuring the voltage drops in the system
until you find the culprit. If everything is fine (i.e. there's 13.0 +
volts at the lights with the engine running) you could get some good
quality e-code replacements with higher wattage bulbs. Note that this is
much harder to do with 86+ vans.

>
>3.  Brakes:  When parked, pressure on the break peddle maintains a strong
>"grip."  When moving, however, the peddle sinks to the floor under constant
>presure...and occasionally, a high pitched whining sound (like escaping
>air) comes from the direction of the master cylinder:  Please, somebody
>tell me I don't need a new M.C.....

Well, don't keep driving it until you find out for sure. If you don't
already know how to diagnose brake problems, this probably isn't the time
to learn. The two symptoms you speak of aren't consistent, so I'm at a loss
to say what your problem could be, except that the MC is a likely candidate
whenever the pedal sinks to the floor.

>
>Thanks in advance for any advice,
>
>Seth B.
>'84 Westy


Joshua Van Tol -- jjvantol@lear.csp.ee.memphis.edu