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MikeCorbitt Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2021 Posts: 65 Location: Corvallis, OR
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Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 9:38 pm Post subject: Dash courtesy light |
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On my "new to me" 1990 Westy, the dashboard courtesy light positioned above the glovebox continually falls out. Nothing looks broken; it just looks like poor fitment. If this is a common problem, are there recommended fixes? Thanks.
Mike _________________ 90 Westy; 2.1 waterboxer; 4 spd; 102K miles, cold a/c |
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Red Ryder Samba Member
Joined: June 26, 2021 Posts: 952 Location: Northern California
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Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2021 9:59 pm Post subject: Re: Dash courtesy light |
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Unfortunately this is very common. Be careful putting the light back in place. It is easy to short out one of the bulb contacts on the metal underneath the vinyl. _________________ “Most everyone’s mad here. You may have noticed I am not quite all there myself.” — Cheshire Cat, Adventures of Alice in Wonderland
“Scarlett” — 1990 Vanagon Carat Wolfsburg Edition
Tornado Red |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50352
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Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 12:34 am Post subject: Re: Dash courtesy light |
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Just run an appropriately size bead of silicone around the edges of the light and reinstall. You might be able to just do the ends, it has been so long now (decades) since I did mine that I little memory of exactly what I did. Yes you need to tape up or use heat shrink on the one positive contact so it can not short out. |
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DuncanS Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013 Posts: 4583 Location: New Hampshire
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Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 4:57 am Post subject: Re: Dash courtesy light |
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Used hot melt glue. |
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MikeCorbitt Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2021 Posts: 65 Location: Corvallis, OR
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Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 8:13 am Post subject: Re: Dash courtesy light |
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Thanks for the feedback. I'll try the silicone and heat shrink. I blew multiple fuses re-inserting the light (slow learned) before I wised up. _________________ 90 Westy; 2.1 waterboxer; 4 spd; 102K miles, cold a/c |
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Red Ryder Samba Member
Joined: June 26, 2021 Posts: 952 Location: Northern California
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Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 3:56 pm Post subject: Re: Dash courtesy light |
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Consider installing an LED replacement bulb before you permanently seal the light in place. Should last as long as you own the vehicle. _________________ “Most everyone’s mad here. You may have noticed I am not quite all there myself.” — Cheshire Cat, Adventures of Alice in Wonderland
“Scarlett” — 1990 Vanagon Carat Wolfsburg Edition
Tornado Red |
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MikeCorbitt Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2021 Posts: 65 Location: Corvallis, OR
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Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 4:24 pm Post subject: Re: Dash courtesy light |
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Good idea on using an LED replacement bulb. Thanks for the tip. _________________ 90 Westy; 2.1 waterboxer; 4 spd; 102K miles, cold a/c |
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Vashon Samba Member
Joined: September 23, 2012 Posts: 200 Location: Vashon Island
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Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 1:02 pm Post subject: Re: Dash courtesy light |
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I have had lots of issuses with that darn map light. falls out ,shorts out , fiddly connectors etc. led bulb is better but dosnt fix old design issues. I ordered one of these yesterday. https://www.uniwerksdesign.com/product/maplightpod/
I have one of Chriss overheadlight panels and it works great so his map light should be a much needed improvement over the oem light.
As I just ordered this and saw this post today ,I thought it might be a relevent alternative for others.
Tim
87 westy |
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MikeCorbitt Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2021 Posts: 65 Location: Corvallis, OR
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Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 2:22 pm Post subject: Re: Dash courtesy light |
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Tim,
Thanks for sharing. This looks like a viable option. Let is know how the fitment is once you've installed it.
Mike _________________ 90 Westy; 2.1 waterboxer; 4 spd; 102K miles, cold a/c |
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kourt Samba Member
Joined: August 13, 2013 Posts: 1948 Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: Dash courtesy light |
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I just installed one of the Uniwerks map light pods.
My old map light (over the glove box) was broken by the Westy rotating seat and its seat back organizer.
The new Uniwerks map light is nice. It does not get caught by the seat back organizer.
My old VW map light and the new Uniwerks map light both had to be secured with one short (1/4") stainless panhead sheet metal screw. Insert the map light assembly and then tighten the screw on the side with the lesser bevel edge (study the profile of the light pod). This will keep the light in place.
kourt |
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coqcitywesty Samba Member
Joined: February 20, 2018 Posts: 401 Location: Coquitlam, BC
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Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2021 8:08 pm Post subject: Re: Dash courtesy light |
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The original dash light served me as nothing more than a major sense of stress as my ‘co-pilot’ had/has a habit of regularly crossing/uncrossing her legs and inevitably hitting the switch and/or light with her foot or knee and either shorting it out or bending the switch. Shorting it out usually killed the radio as well as they are on the same fuse.
I solved the problem by swapping it out for a GW USB port and purchasing a flexible USB led light. I now drive stress-free and if ‘we’ need light on that side of the dash, the led light gets used. _________________ 1991 Westfalia EJ251, 1972 Volvo 1800 ES |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32632 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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joetiger Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005 Posts: 5078 Location: denver
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 6:32 am Post subject: Re: Dash courtesy light |
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I put in one of these things from GoWesty:
https://www.gowesty.com/product/12-volt-accessorie...p-light?v=
...then added a cheap flexible LED lamp from Amazon.
The second USB port from the dash thing powers my XM radio. _________________ Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
www.josephtrussell.com |
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MikeCorbitt Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2021 Posts: 65 Location: Corvallis, OR
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 8:49 am Post subject: Re: Dash courtesy light |
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Joe, what are the two gauges mounted in place of the ashtray?
Mike _________________ 90 Westy; 2.1 waterboxer; 4 spd; 102K miles, cold a/c |
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joetiger Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005 Posts: 5078 Location: denver
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 9:02 am Post subject: Re: Dash courtesy light |
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MikeCorbitt wrote: |
Joe, what are the two gauges mounted in place of the ashtray?
Mike |
The pod is from T3 Technique:
https://t3technique.com/electrical/dual-gauge-pod.html
I have oil pressure and house battery voltage in there right now, but I'm thinking of swapping out the volt meter for a redundant coolant temp gauge. _________________ Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
www.josephtrussell.com |
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MikeCorbitt Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2021 Posts: 65 Location: Corvallis, OR
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:11 am Post subject: Re: Dash courtesy light |
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I prefer gauges and it's the oil pressure and coolant temp I want. Thanks for the information. _________________ 90 Westy; 2.1 waterboxer; 4 spd; 102K miles, cold a/c |
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Bleyseng Samba Member
Joined: July 03, 2005 Posts: 4752 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 11:03 am Post subject: Re: Dash courtesy light |
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Yeah first thing I did was install a coolant and oil pressure gauges in the ashtray pod. Gotta know what those are driving down the road. _________________ 70 Ghia Black convert-9/69 build date-stock w/133k 1600 SP-barn find now with a rebuilt tranny and engine
77 Westy 2.0L w/Ljet, Camper Special engine-95hp and with LSD!(sold)
76 Porsche 914 2.1L L20c, 120hp Djet (sold)
87 Syncro Westy Titan Red 2.1L 2 knob 100k miles |
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MikeCorbitt Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2021 Posts: 65 Location: Corvallis, OR
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 11:17 am Post subject: Re: Dash courtesy light |
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Where did you source these? I'm finding a VDO oil pressure gauge at Bus Depot but not a Coolant Temperature gauge. _________________ 90 Westy; 2.1 waterboxer; 4 spd; 102K miles, cold a/c |
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4Gears4Tires Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2018 Posts: 3054 Location: MD
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joetiger Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005 Posts: 5078 Location: denver
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 12:10 pm Post subject: Re: Dash courtesy light |
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MikeCorbitt wrote: |
Where did you source these? I'm finding a VDO oil pressure gauge at Bus Depot but not a Coolant Temperature gauge. |
If you can find a VW cabriolet, Rabbit Pickup, Scirocco, or Rabbit GTI at a U-pull-it yard, the console has VDO gauges that can be had for next to nothing. Otherwise, Ebay has a bunch.
_________________ Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
www.josephtrussell.com |
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