Vanagon fuse box cover, '86-91 (instructions, notes, pics)

[Sodo]

Several recent threads WRT fuses got me wondering if recent Vanagon owners are aware of these simple fusebox details. And perhaps some old Vanagon owners too. '85 and older has a different fusebox and cover. I searched theSamba and didn't see this info, (better repeated than absent)

If you rarely access your fuses, it's easy to forget how to remove/replace the 86-91 Vanagon fuse panel cover. Its confusing because it has two round pegs that appear to be "hinge pegs" that it might rotate on, to engage the tab below. And the cover is round which suggests that it rotates on the pegs then clip at the lower locking tab.

The cover does NOT rotate on the round hooks/pegs.
Installing/removing the cover is all vertical.

To remove, push the cover upward, which flexes the lower plastic tab. You push upward until you can pull the two hooks outward, off the top of the round pegs, and top of the cover comes off rearward.

To replace cover, hook the central plastic tab onto the steel tab first, push up on the cover, flexing the central plastic tab. Then set the left and right hooks forward onto their round pegs.

Note on the inside of the fusebox the circuit / functions of the (numbered) fuses are listed. Fuse#9 and #10 are the headlight fuses. These small embossed numbers are not easy to see while you are under the steering wheel, but the information is there!

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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[borninabus]

i've always said that anyone who wants this panel cover has obviously never used one. what a pain in the arse. must be the same person who designed the heat & air controls

hey Sodo, you're missing the little plastic fuse puller tool thingy (if that's your panel pictured). and why haven't you upgraded to the #99 programmable wiper relay?
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88 Van WBX, A/T - 13 JSW TDI 6M/T - 2012 Touareg TDI Sport

[kamzcab86]

[dhaavers]

OMG Sodo...why didn't you post this ~5 years ago when for $25 I replaced my old cover (with 2 broken
hooks) for an OG replacement and almost immediately broke off another one of the hooks...???



For the foreseeable future, I'll just keep the duct tape holding it in place. Yeah, I HATE that thing...

- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[spitsnrovers]

Nice explanation sodo!

Now I'll have to go out to my van and put that darn cover on properly, as it has been hanging crooked by one hook for at least 7 years because I could not figure out your simple explanation
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'88 VW Westfalia
'75 Triumph Spitfire 1500

[DanHoug]

yeah, i too thought the damn thing rotated back like an old bread drawer or something. couldn't figure it out and sorta decided it didn't rotate. my cover legend doesn't match my fuse layout... it's a scab from another van but i like it to cover all my 'fuse taps' i've added for gauges, USB outlet, horn relay for air horns, and the feed to the bottom of the #3 fuse from my aux batt for the light and radio circuits.
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.

'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd

Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com

[cmayna]

Sodo,
Your instructions are far more precise as compared to the owner's manual which says:

Removing cover:
Detach cover at front, swing downwards and take it off.

Installing cover:
Hang cover in the eyes of the fuse box bracket. Swing it upwards and press
it firmly into position.

I just went out a practiced a few times.

Thanks for the nice reminder so next time when we blow our fuse
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'90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.


Craig