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bigblue72
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Joined: November 26, 2014
Posts: 28
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 Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2016 11:28 am Post subject: Rewiring a 1980 Vanagon |
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Hey guys,
So I have a 1980 Vanagon that's stuck in Mexico due to an electrical problem. I've changed and fixed some of the potential issues in the wiring but it's still giving me the same problem. At this point I'm simply going to check every single connection and wire in my vanagon.
I am not the most experienced in the electrical wold but I do have a good friend that says he can pretty much rewire the vanagon ( he is an electrical engineer and has worked on cars before)
SOOOO, my question is. Do you guys think that someone with that knowledge could essentially help me rewire my vanagon? I ask because I know these vans are tricky. |
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Randy in Maine
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Joined: August 03, 2003
Posts: 34890
Location: The Beach
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| Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2016 11:53 am Post subject: Re: Rewiring a 1980 Vanagon |
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A good mechanic with a volt ohm meter, the ability to read a wiring diagram, and some troubleshooting skills would be better than an electrical engineer.
Why not just tow it home? |
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32584
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Steve M.
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Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6829
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2016 1:31 pm Post subject: Re: Rewiring a 1980 Vanagon |
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Are you talking rewiring to fix the problem or completely replacing the wire harness?
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bigblue72
Samba Member
Joined: November 26, 2014
Posts: 28
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| Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2016 3:57 pm Post subject: Re: Rewiring a 1980 Vanagon |
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Can't tow it because it would cost me wayyy to much. It's in southern Mexico.
I've already asked all kinds of questions in the past, here and on other forums, spoken to quite a few very knowledgeable vanagon mechanics and have come to the conclusion that, I don't really need to rewire the whole thing, but I need to check all my wires.
Thanks for the replies. =D |
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32584
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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bigblue72
Samba Member
Joined: November 26, 2014
Posts: 28
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| Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2016 5:08 pm Post subject: Re: Rewiring a 1980 Vanagon |
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| djkeev wrote: |
You have 15 post here, mostly about fuel filter issue..... Running.
Thought you fixed it?
What's not working?
Dave |
Yea we fixed, and/or cleaned, every part of the fuel injection system. After 3 weeks of work we started on tuning the motor, we found a couple of brothers in Mexico City that love Vanagons and have a few of their own so they helped us with that and started checking the electrical system after. In the process we noticed some nasty electrical work. Did what we could without taking apart the entire dash and still had problems. Right before taking apart the entire dash we read somewhere it might be the starter switch, so we changed that and it worked!!!
3 weeks of PERFECT driving after that we ran into the same exact problem....
I'd like to add also that both times the problem started after the van was sitting for about 3-4 weeks without driving. (i did turn it on every few days to run the engine for a bit) |
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weswsimpson
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Joined: September 29, 2015
Posts: 191
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2016 5:36 pm Post subject: Re: Rewiring a 1980 Vanagon |
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| if you changed the starter switch and it worked, i'd look to something frying your starter switch. Try replacing your starter switch again. Don't assume that just because you changed it that it's still good. |
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bigblue72
Samba Member
Joined: November 26, 2014
Posts: 28
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| Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2016 5:39 pm Post subject: Re: Rewiring a 1980 Vanagon |
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| weswsimpson wrote: |
| if you changed the starter switch and it worked, i'd look to something frying your starter switch. Try replacing your starter switch again. Don't assume that just because you changed it that it's still good. |
Yea when we go back to Mexico that was my first plan. But after seeing what was under the part of the dash we took off, it's safe to assume we will find more kinds of poor wiring. So I figure we might as well at least see whats lies beneath =D. |
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bigblue72
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Joined: November 26, 2014
Posts: 28
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| Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2016 6:55 pm Post subject: Re: Rewiring a 1980 Vanagon |
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| What else would I need besides an Ohm meter and diagrams? Like what kind of wire? Or spark plugs? etc.. |
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weswsimpson
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Joined: September 29, 2015
Posts: 191
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2016 8:45 am Post subject: Re: Rewiring a 1980 Vanagon |
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| fyi, the Bentley manual does not have the correct wiring diagram for the non-california '80, most is correct, but from memory, the stuff relating to the engine is of the cali version. (not sure what you have.) |
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weswsimpson
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Posts: 191
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2016 8:53 am Post subject: Re: Rewiring a 1980 Vanagon |
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I'm going to be re-doing my '80 using a Painless circuit fuse block, as there's a lot on the vanagon that isn't fuse protected. But I don't think this project is for the faint of heart... or if you need to get out of Mexico quick. In the short term you may create more problems than you solve if you're not familiar with auto wiring.
http://www.painlessperformance.com/webcat/30001
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weswsimpson
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Location: Chicago
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bluebus86
Banned
Joined: September 02, 2010
Posts: 11075
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| Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2016 9:23 am Post subject: Re: Rewiring a 1980 Vanagon |
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so the switch you replaced, the key switch, what was the problem, would it fail to crank the starter, or fail to run the motor after starter cranks?
any of these problems with the key switch could temporarly be fixed with proper jumper wires over the key switch to get you home.
please give some more details on what the problem is.
good luck, enjoy the tacos!
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mightyart
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Joined: March 24, 2004
Posts: 6188
Location: Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2016 9:54 am Post subject: Re: Rewiring a 1980 Vanagon |
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I've had a starter button in may van for several years now.
The key switch on mine is messed up, where you put the key in, not the cheap plastic switch that's below it.
I jumped the wires at the connection, no cutting or splicing.
beats trying to get matching keys and everything for now.
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thummmper
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Joined: November 25, 2009
Posts: 2015
Location: Meadow Valley, California Republic
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| Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2016 1:56 pm Post subject: Re: Rewiring a 1980 Vanagon |
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| I know for sure that you saw something scary in the dash--you can pull apart each connection, one at a time and grease them. you can toothpick the grease on sparingly, or anti-sieze compound to establish good continuity--but before you panic--clean all the grounds you can find--90% of all electrical malfunctions are simply bad grounds. |
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