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Fri Aug 27, 2010 6:38 pm

walnutplanter wrote: Ben, you are the man. I love reading your posts. Please ignore the whiners. The Samba is less interesting when you are not on it. I have used your web postings on your site. Thanks for the instructions plus the great pictures. I appreciate your work and have made a donation to your web site. Thanks!

Apple polisher.....

Fri Aug 27, 2010 9:11 pm

[quote="jeffklein"] walnutplanter wrote: Ben, you are the man. I love reading your posts. Please ignore the whiners.

Apple polisher.....

You made me laugh. Mean people suck!

Fri Aug 27, 2010 9:25 pm

I bought my first Vanagon 2 1/2 months ago. It is a 1986 Westfalia Wolfsburg Weekender that is now approaching 165,000 miles on the odometer (which just died as I passed Las Vegas).

The GF and I took it out for a a quick overnighter the first weekend. The next morning when I started the engine, the Oxygen Sensor and Charging lights stayed on so I replaced the Alternator and a wire with insulation problems going from the alternator to the junction box at the left forward corner of the engine compartment.

I puttered around for a while scraping oil and dirt from the engine and tranny/transaxle and rinsing with hot water. Removed seats and vacuumed out dog hair. Drove about 700 miles around the mountains of western Colorado, and thought this thing might be ready for a road trip.

My son recently moved home from Santa Barbara, California where he had graduated from UCSB then studied a year to teach English as a second language. About four years ago he had spent two summers doing trail maintenance in Yosemite National Park. He still had stuff to move home and I had not been to Yosemite so we decided to do a father/son adventure.

The Westy did fine with the two of us driving straight through in shifts to Santa Barbara. After a few days we headed for Yosemite N.P. and arrived with no problems. Unfortunately, it was getting late for finding a campsite. We headed for one which reportedly had openings. But as we turned off the highway on the campground approach road the headlights went out. We manage to navigate with emergency flashers and by holding back on the turn signal stalk for high beams.

No campsites available...

We used the high beam switch to drive to the next campground. Upon arrival that trick stopped providing light. And that campground turned out to be full. So we pulled over in front of a restaurant with cabins on the approach road and discovered they had "bear boxes" where we could safely stash our food.

We popped the top and got some welcome sleep.

The next morning my son tried starting the van and I could smell that he had flooded it. I pulled the spark plugs are pumped out the excess fuel. I re-gapped the plugs, reinstalled them, and van started up.

That night we decided on Bridal Veil Campground, up high near Glacier Point. But when we backed into our campsite and turned off the ignition, the van would not restart. I had taken some automotive classes abut 35 years ago and still remember a little. I pulled the cable from the center of the distributor and held it a little ways from the engine while my son cranked it. Yellow spark... I seemed to remember it was supposed to be blue-white.

Fortunately, my son had left text messages for a buddy he had worked with who was coming off his summer trail maintenance job to join us for the night. We spent the next day of hiking with him, and he shuttled us to Glacier the following morning so we could use a cell phone to call the auto shop in the valley below. They ordered a coil which came in on the bus that afternoon. With the new coil the van started on the first turn of the key. But we still had no lights...

We got up early the next morning and headed back down to Santa Barbara. My son had plans to fly to Seattle and visit his sister and BIL the next weekend so I loaded his stuff in the van and left with the sunrise for western Colorado. Hmmmm... No wipers to clear the dew from the windshield. Fortunately the desert weather was perfect and I made it home about noon the following day.

Samba.com has been very educational for me, and this thread solved my lighting, wiper, and fan problems this evening. So thanks for your generous sharing of knowledge. Thanks to all here who participate! I am getting a great education and surviving this new "hobby" with increasing confidence. And I will not by going to San Antonio for my GF's grand daughter's wedding in five weeks without a spare ignition switch! The more problems I solve, the more dependable the Vanagon becomes.

Keep posting good advice supplemented with great pictures! You are making a difference.

Sat Aug 28, 2010 11:12 am

[quote="walnutplanter"] jeffklein wrote: walnutplanter wrote: Ben, you are the man. I love reading your posts. Please ignore the whiners.

Apple polisher.....

You made me laugh. Mean people suck!

LOL! I said the exact same thing on this forum somewhere before!

Sat Aug 28, 2010 1:39 pm

I went out this morning and bought a new switch. My new van is having the same problem I read on this thread with no headlights, horn, wipers or fans. So I would like to thank everyone on here as well. This is definately making me proactive in this one part for sure.

Sat Aug 28, 2010 5:38 pm

Ok all I have to say is if you choose not to change this switch you are an idiot and have no one to blame but yourself when you breakdown because of it. It took me 45 minutes start to finish and that was taking my time. It just solved all my lighting, fan, wiper, etc. problems. I can't believe this little switch does so much and was so easy to change.

Sat Aug 28, 2010 5:43 pm

Always got a spare in my van! i just thought this was common practice :)

Sat Aug 28, 2010 8:29 pm

Ok, this may seem like a stupid question but obviously I don't know or I woudn't be asking. How do you know when its the ignition switch (old) or its the starter (allegedly new not rebuilt)? What differentiates the two. I know they are 2 different entitites but what is each. Bentley has not helped me on this as only pics.

Sat Aug 28, 2010 8:53 pm

"""thurst """

What a GREAT travel story, thanks for sharing... wile reading I felt .... let's call it nostalgia.

People like you make me want to share more.

We have beloved one with terminal cancer, my mom is loosing her eyesight, my girlfriend dad was just (3 day ago) diagnose with prostate cancer. We can't leave, we just can't!!! I'm selling my beloved red devil for that reason, no hope for traveling in the next year or so. We need to stay close to help the sick one, no way out! I can't stand the fact that my super red van is parked in a driveway for 1-2 years.

you made me want to put the key in the IGNITION (my French content is always relevant!) switch and just drive... somewhere!

Men don't ou just love to put the key in the IGN switch and just drive... somewhere, somehow.

Picture of the day:

regards, Ben
ps1.: speed read 114kmh (70.5mph) on cruise control, my longest ever driving day, 1630km (1012 mile), going south to Mexico.

ps2.: I will miss my van, i will NEVER have one like that, NEVER!

Sat Aug 28, 2010 8:56 pm

If you suspect either start with the ignition switch its only $10.00 at GW or Van Cafe. I paid $25 at autozone because I was stupid and didn't pick one up at GW before I went to my buddies house. My opinion is this switched should be part of a tune up and changed at regular intervals.

I can't think Ben enough for this post. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.

Sat Aug 28, 2010 8:57 pm

Ben I wish you could have gotten away. I know how much you were counting on it. I think that is one of the bad things about getting older, we are all exposed to much more suffering and death. I don't like it. Don't want to be younger, just want all the bad things to go away. I'm hoping you can get a break some time. I was going to try to look you up in Mtl but it doesn't look like I'll get up there. Have some friends who are disappointed.

Sat Aug 28, 2010 11:30 pm

DAIZEE wrote: How do you know when its the ignition switch (old) or its the starter (allegedly new not rebuilt)? What differentiates the two. I know they are 2 different entitites but what is each.

When it is in the "run" position think of the ignition switch as a circuit breaker in your home. If it is defective, headlights, fans, wipers, etc. that only have electric power when it is in the "run" position will not operate.

When you hold the key in the "start" position, the ignition switch allows current to the starter solenoid, which kicks the small starter pinion gear out to engage the large gear on the engine flywheel (or its lighter equivalent on an automatic transmission vehicle). Then the starter motor cranks the engine until you release the key and switch goes back in the "run" position.

Go to an auto shop that has engines out of vehicles and look at a flywheel. Sometime when a friend has a starter motor out of a vehicle, ask them to hook it up to a battery with jumper cables so you can see the solenoid kick out the pinion gear and the starter motor spin it.

It is not that complicated once you've seen it.

Ben,

Happy to inspire. Don't get too bogged down. Take care of yourself with some shorter trips.

My FIL declined treatment for his prostate cancer and it took three years to kill him. He was in his mid seventies and had suffered all his life with asthma and allergies. He was ready to go. It was an interesting time for the whole family.

I'm gonna be 64 yo in November. We're all going downstream though some zip energetically back and forth between the banks of the "river". Engage these elders in good conversation, and accept that all this is temporary.

But you knew all this already...

Take care and keep your passion!

Sat Aug 28, 2010 11:49 pm

Funny... I've had my starter rebuilt this summer and my mechanic installed a solenoid to help with the aging wires on my '89 AT van.

Today I went mountain biking in Bromont. When I was done, I tried to start my van but it wouldnt start.. The problem is definitely NOT coming from the engine or the starter so it just has to be the ignition switch (or its circuit to the starter). I didnt have my tools with me, so I ended up using a swiss knife blade to short the solenoid; the van started in a second and I could drive home.

I do have to replace my IGN switch now.

Sun Aug 29, 2010 12:29 am

ftp2leta wrote: """thurst """

What a GREAT travel story, thanks for sharing... wile reading I felt .... let's call it nostalgia.

you made me want to put the key in the IGNITION (my French content is always relevant!) switch and just drive... somewhere!

Men don't ou just love to put the key in the IGN switch and just drive... somewhere, somehow.

Not just men feel that way! won't go into details but I have been feeling nostalgic too, it's my birthday and there are a few people that I wish were around to share it with.

susie

Sun Aug 29, 2010 5:02 am

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSIE, I had the big 65 last mth. It is a time og change. Hope you get to celebrate.

Sun Aug 29, 2010 5:36 am

We just lost her this morning.... It's a beautiful day up here to leave this world.

She didn't have time to come sailing with me.

Life can be short.

Take care.

Sun Aug 29, 2010 5:55 am

Ben she is suffering no more. You were all there for her and that made her passing comforting. Soon you'll learn she will be with you all forever. When you get to that place there will be comfort. Remember she is not suffering now.

Sun Aug 29, 2010 8:23 am

Ben,

Life is very short. I lost my Dad last year after almost 1 year in the hospitals, nursing home, with brain damage caused by an unsuccessful surgery. I was there for him an with him as much as possible. I was by his side when he took his last breath.

Both of my Vans broke during the time he was in a hospital 50 miles away from me. With the help of the nice people on tis forum and especially your instructions about how to adjust the valves I was able to repair both vans and we are still driving them now.

I am almost to the end of the journey. It has not been easy. After I sell my Dads house I will be able to settle the estate and fulfill his final wishes.

I wish you well on your journey.

No, for my ignition questions.

I have two vans that I think need the whole ignition replaced, key lock part and the electrical part.

White 1985 has a broken return spring or perhaps they slip out of place? It is also very hard to start. It requires cranking and cranking. I have replaced everything, Injectors, fuel filters, plugs, cap, rotor, plug wires, etc. Once it starts it runs perfectly.

Blue, also a 1985 had he whole ignition replaced about 6 years ago. It starts and runs perfectly, 1st crank it fires right up BUT I have to turn the key quite a bit harder then normal to get it to turn over. If someone other then me tries to start they turn the key and say nothing happens, broke, won't turn over.

I need to order parts so I am looking for advice as to what to get.
Does it sound like I just need one part or another or both pieces?

Thank you,

David

Sun Aug 29, 2010 8:40 am

ftp2leta wrote: We just lost her this morning.... It's a beautiful day up here to leave this world.

She didn't have time to come sailing with me.

Life can be short.

Take care.
Condolences to you and your family, Ben... that's got to be hard seeing a loved one go, but a relief to know they're out of their suffering. Good for you for putting family first... take care of those you love. As much as we all "love" our VWs, they're only machines.

Paul

Sun Aug 29, 2010 9:07 am

I totally agree but sometimes people don't have families and they get attached to their pets and their vans. These things are their solace. Sometimes things are clear and sometimes not and yet I can feel Ben's pain and loss.