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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10367 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 11:32 pm Post subject: Re: ATTN: Check Your Power Steering Switch Wiring!!! |
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I recall a thread here on the 1.9 PS switch in regards to the boost valves.
Digijet "late version" P. 24.24b in Bentley makes reference to the PS switch.
Neil. _________________ 1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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teej Samba Member
Joined: November 26, 2010 Posts: 897 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 4:51 am Post subject: Re: ATTN: Check Your Power Steering Switch Wiring!!! |
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I just wanted to add a word of gratitude for threads like this. I added a 7.5A fuse a couple months ago to the suspect wire after reading about some of the incidents of smoked wires. I don't post a lot these days as others here are much more knowledgeable, but am always reading on here and learning more about these rigs and how to reinforce function and reliability. _________________ 1986+ Wolfsburg Weekender Pop-Top 2.3 WBX Manual Trans |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32574 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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?Waldo? Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9752 Location: Where?
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 8:29 am Post subject: Re: ATTN: Check Your Power Steering Switch Wiring!!! |
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The 1.9's that came equipped with power steering have the pressure switch which controls an aux air valve to bump up the idle. I was hoping someone already knew whether or not the system was fused and if not, then whether or not the fuse should go in the same wire. |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7754 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 9:03 am Post subject: Re: ATTN: Check Your Power Steering Switch Wiring!!! |
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Vanagon Nut wrote: |
...Digijet "late version" P. 24.24b in Bentley makes reference to the PS switch... |
Indeed. Of course, that page is only about the vacuum system layout, nothing electrical. The PS switch certainly
exists on the 1.9, but (as is not uncommon) Bentley's documentation keeps it shrouded in mystery...
<shrug>
- Dave _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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Love My Westy Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2007 Posts: 1837
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 10:45 am Post subject: Re: ATTN: Check Your Power Steering Switch Wiring!!! |
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My '86 Weekender does not have power steering. Are the wires still in place for PS that I need to check anyway? I know it is the original harness. |
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Love My Westy Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2007 Posts: 1837
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 10:49 am Post subject: Re: ATTN: Check Your Power Steering Switch Wiring!!! |
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Love My Westy wrote: |
My '86 Weekender does not have power steering. Are the wires still in place for PS that I need to check anyway? I know it is the original harness. |
I forgot to mention, it is a late '86 manufactured in July. |
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crazyvwvanman Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008 Posts: 9920 Location: Orbiting San Diego
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 12:55 pm Post subject: Re: ATTN: Check Your Power Steering Switch Wiring!!! |
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The 2 PS switch wires are part of the Digifant harness so I would expect them to be there. Good thing to check.
Mark |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32574 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Vanagon Nut Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008 Posts: 10367 Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 1:20 pm Post subject: Re: ATTN: Check Your Power Steering Switch Wiring!!! |
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dhaavers wrote: |
Vanagon Nut wrote: |
...Digijet "late version" P. 24.24b in Bentley makes reference to the PS switch... |
Indeed. Of course, that page is only about the vacuum system layout, nothing electrical. The PS switch certainly
exists on the 1.9, but (as is not uncommon) Bentley's documentation keeps it shrouded in mystery...
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I was a bit vague. My WAG is that the PS switch on the 1.9 is wired somewhat separately, so to speak, of the main harnesses. However. The positive supply wire (from 15 buss?) to PS switch might have similar potential if a dead short happened? Like, it runs along in part of the main harness somewhere? I"m sure a voltmeter and flashlight would shed some light?
There's more unfused wires on a Vanagon than one might think. Personally, I think this all speaks towards install of a ground cut off at battery(ies) or fused link type wire on positive near batter(yes)
I wonder if someone makes a kit for an easy install, easy access ground switch?
Neil. _________________ 1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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SteveMc Samba Member
Joined: December 19, 2013 Posts: 210 Location: Alberta, Canada
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 1:59 pm Post subject: Re: ATTN: Check Your Power Steering Switch Wiring!!! |
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djkeev wrote: |
I would suggest that everyone install a 7.5 amp inline fuse for the fuel injection / fuel pump circuit.
It is cheap insurance warding off potentially big problems.
Keep in mind that If the fuse does blow, your engine shuts off.
But for me, better that than a fire!
Dave |
And mark up your Bentley wiring diagram for when your van dies and you forgot you installed a fuse. _________________ 1986 Transporter Single Cab Syncro |
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SlalomVan Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2006 Posts: 127 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 3:05 pm Post subject: Re: ATTN: Check Your Power Steering Switch Wiring!!! |
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The exact same thing happened to me a while back! I was putting new belts on and making adjustments to the power steering hoses and I must have bumped the wires attached to the PS switch. Buttoned everything up and started the van up. Died immediately. Looked back and there was a puff of white smoke coming out of the driver's side vent. The harness was scorched all the way from where the PS switch wires entered the harness all the way into the box mounted on the drivers side of the engine compartment with the fuel pump/injection relays in it. Looking at where the wires were attached to the PS pump switch, the prongs were bent and touching one another causing them to short out. I figured that I must have bumped them when messing with the hoses.
New (used) harness installed and everything works just fine! That is something I never want to do again.
Installing a fuse is a great idea! Until I do that, I am always making sure these wires are in good working order with the insulated connectors at the switch on tightly! _________________ 1989 Vanagon GL - 2.1 (White - "Northlake" Totaled/Gone)
1988 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg (Orly Blue - "Poulsbo" - Sold)
1989 Vanagon G - 2.1 (White - "Kingston") - Full rebuild underway - Last on the road in 1997 |
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Paulbeard Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2015 Posts: 2604 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 4:54 pm Post subject: Re: ATTN: Check Your Power Steering Switch Wiring!!! |
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djkeev wrote: |
I would suggest that everyone install a 7.5 amp inline fuse for the fuel injection / fuel pump circuit.
It is cheap insurance warding off potentially big problems.
Keep in mind that If the fuse does blow, your engine shuts off.
But for me, better that than a fire!
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OK, this is on to-do my list, now that my van is safely home
I think it's explained how 7.5A was arrived at but what would cause a short/blown fuse/sudden engine stop? It seems like most of the incidents are from the wires being bumped. _________________ Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs
— dhaavers |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32574 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Paulbeard Samba Member
Joined: July 10, 2015 Posts: 2604 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 5:34 pm Post subject: Re: ATTN: Check Your Power Steering Switch Wiring!!! |
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djkeev wrote: |
The power feed to the fuel pump and fuel injection is interrupted if the fuse blows.
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I get that but what would create the conditions to blow the fuse? Sounds like most of these cases are from old wiring getting bumped and causing a short. Are there other circumstances that would cause that?
I meant to have picked up the fuse holder and fuses today but I had another inconvenience to manage first. So now I will add an ignition switch to my list. _________________ Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs
— dhaavers |
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borninabus Samba R&D Dept.
Joined: May 18, 2006 Posts: 4536 Location: Arizona Highways
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 5:46 pm Post subject: Re: ATTN: Check Your Power Steering Switch Wiring!!! |
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well, i haven’t been hitting it too hard.
just kinda casually working on getting things sorted out.
here is the junction box end of the now repaired harness:
this loom contains the fuel pump relay power, coil power, tach lead, and wiring for oil pressure switches, temp gauge sender & coolant level sensor.
had to cut & solder the bullet connections from the old wires onto the new because i couldn’t find any locally. they’re all back in the multipoint connection now. i will wrap it with some split loom before install.
here is the old wiring harness removed from the van:
i also had to completely remove the junction box and repair the power lug that got so hot it melted out of its mount
everything is ready to go back in tomorrow. _________________ 88 Van WBX, A/T - 13 JSW TDI 6M/T - 2012 Touareg TDI Sport |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7754 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 6:22 pm Post subject: Re: ATTN: Check Your Power Steering Switch Wiring!!! |
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^^^ Sweet...nice work.
SteveMc wrote: |
djkeev wrote: |
I would suggest that everyone install a 7.5 amp inline fuse for the fuel injection / fuel pump circuit.
It is cheap insurance warding off potentially big problems.
Keep in mind that If the fuse does blow, your engine shuts off.
But for me, better that than a fire!
Dave |
And mark up your Bentley wiring diagram for when your van dies and you forgot you installed a fuse. |
Indeed. FWIW, Dave cleverly installed a clear fuse holder with a "glows-when-it-blows"-type fuse,
easily visible as soon as you open the engine bay. It's such a great idea, I did mine the same way...
I ALSO insulated the PS switch connectors, so it's a real "belt & suspenders"-type fix.
Better this than pants-on-the-ground, or (worst case scenario) pants-on-fire...
- Dave _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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kamzcab86 Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008 Posts: 7915 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 7:15 pm Post subject: Re: ATTN: Check Your Power Steering Switch Wiring!!! |
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Project finally done on my '90: Scratched the heat shrink plan and simply replaced the 90° connectors; also went with a clear fuse holder with glow-when-blows fuse (ironically, the only holders my PepBoys had).
I used a mini fuse. The extra mini fuse is packaged with an extra (giant) maxi fuse, which I converted the A/C fuse to... both are stored in the rear Westy cabinet for convenience. _________________ ~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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Michael4104 Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2014 Posts: 340 Location: Livermore, Ca
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 11:45 am Post subject: Re: ATTN: Check Your Power Steering Switch Wiring!!! |
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Good job kamz 👍 _________________ 1990 Wolfsburg Carat with new poptop.
1985 Westy now sporting a 1995 Jetta ABA 2.0L. Sold |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7754 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 12:18 pm Post subject: Re: ATTN: Check Your Power Steering Switch Wiring!!! |
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^^^ FWIW: I ran the leads for the "glow" fuse holder out through the grommet
for easy visual from <outside> the junction box if/when necessary...
(Sorry - no pic)
- Dave _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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