Official lazy person's stupid question thread

[VicVan]

The load reduction relay cuts the power to some components while the starter motor is running, i.e. when you are cranking. The starter motor is a heavy consumer of electricity, hence the need to reduce the load on the battery by cutting the headlights, wipers, etc

So no, removing it won't make your lights brighter. What are the issues with your lights?
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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH)

[jimf909]

The load reduction relay reduces the load on the battery when the ignition switch is turned to the start position (to crank the starter) by disconnecting circuits such as lights, blower motors, radio, etc. (I don't know exactly which circuits are switched off).

I'd track down grounds, add headlight relays, etc. to make headlights brighter. Your 7" round headlights should do reasonably well and be much better v. later model years with rectangular DOT headlights.
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- Jim

[Wildthings]

The ignition switch has an "X" set of contacts that OPEN when the key is turned to the start position. According to the wiring diagrams in the Technical Section, the X circuit directly powers the headlights and it acts as a trigger for the Load Reduction Relay which powers the heaters and the wipers.

If you were to run the power for the headlights through a pair of relays, so that it did not go through either ignition switch, the headlight switch, or dimmer switch, you might see an improvement in your headlights. You could use the 56a and 56b terminals on the dimmer switch to trigger the relays.

You can buy headlight relay kits in the classifieds, I would assume that this is how they are wired, but don't really know.

[DuncanS]

[crazyvwvanman]

NO, the current for the wipers and blowers does NOT go through the ignition switch.
That current goes through the X Load Reduction Relay instead.

The headlight power does go through the ignition switch originally and that is one of the ways adding a headlight relay kit improves things.

The 82 diesel has an inherently weaker electrical system than wbx Vanagons.

Mark

[bobbyblack]

Can a Queen size bed / box be fit in a Westy for transport between locations? Will even just 1 part fit, thus 2 trips? Anyone know or have done this?
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[elizer]

For those with the Gowesty Spare b gone what do you put in there? I bought one, but I wonder if a water proof gear bag would hold up to all the gunk that could get on it.


https://gowesty.com/products/light-duty-storage-for-spare-tire-location?variant=41425051517093
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91 syncro westy fas tdi

[montanasurfer]

[dustino]

[BCE56]

[djkeev]

[space]

Have been contemplating a manual to auto trans conversion
I have a 2.5 subi motor
Was planning on going with a subaru auto trans
Other than subarugears kit, what would be needed outside of shifter linkage?
ECU replacement?
New Radiator?
Ive done some searching and havent found this particular issue addressed (though Im sure its been done)
TIA
T
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82 westy
w:
2.5 JDM Subie
Rear discs

[Zephyr_shreds]

So, I rolled my 82 diesel 3 times without a seat belt, windows flew off but somehow I stayed inside and survived. I’m sore. But I’ve never been so depressed in my life and wish I died with my van. Engine and tranny are good still. It’s a 1.9 with rebuilt tranny and final drive ratio. I did all the work on it myself and with your guys help. So. I’m sorry. And I love you guys a lot. The knowledge I’ve gained will stay with me forever.

So today I spent all my savings on another 82 diesel. But I think I regret it because the tranny and motor blew up and almost caught on fire. And because it doesn’t feel the same. I think it was made in China because it doesn’t have a rear window wiper. No reservoir. The wiper stick doesn’t even click forward. My life is a joke.

[Schnippzle]

[Wildthings]

[steve244]

[steve244]

On a lighter note,

How come I've never seen belly pans before my van? Are these typically left off? What disadvantage is there to keeping them (other than more work to replace the fuel pump frequently). I've got the gasoline heater up there which I plan to keep and use.

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82 AC vanagon approx 200K miles (3K are mine).
DD is a 2015 Leaf
Road Trip to Hell (FL 2023)
The Vanagon's drivetrain and chassis restomod thread. Best sung to the tune of I Did It My Way...

[indianpeaksjoe]

What on earth are these two wires poking out of the back of my van? The wires were stripped back an inch and twisted like speaker wire. Which is my best guess. But who knows

[jimf909]

[snowsyncro]