The Air-Schooled Games - 4 - newbies only!

[airschooled]

Greetings, everyone! Recently, I’ve seen a few new members digging in and participating in the diagnosing of various bus issues around here. Kudos to you folks, keep it up!

To keep the spirit of learning alive, I propose a game. When time allows, I will post a thread as a new VW owner who is having a problem with their bus, (occasionally using confusing words and “great advice I get from Facebook.”) To those of you who read threads and do not participate much because you fear being wrong or giving bad advice, this thread is for you!! To those of you who can diagnose from a thousand miles away, please watch from a distance. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. I don’t want any regulars chiming in instantly and ruining the fun!

Rules:

1) Ask questions, make suggestions, and learn! Don’t be afraid!
2) Every thread scenario has actually happened.
3) Newbies only. You know who you are.
4) No prizes… Yet!!!!


See you on the “road.” Game 4 is in the next post!
Robbie
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Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
www.airschooled.com

[airschooled]

Subject: brake warning light glows slightly

Hi there, I just bought a ’77 Westy and it runs and drives perfectly except for one little detail. When I release the hand brake, the warning light in the dash dims down but does not shut off. It’s annoying at night; is it supposed to be this way? If not, how do I fix it?
_________________
Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
www.airschooled.com

[Cap10323]

[airschooled]

[ChrisFred]

Handbrake switch failed? Is the warning light socket malfunctioning? I would test these two first If not, I have a few more questions:

1.) I see you are driving a '77. Do you still have drums in the rear?
2.) Does the light come on when hard braking?
3.) How much play is in the brake pedal?
4.) When was the last tune on the bus? Did in include adjusting the master cylinder push rod?
5.) Is there a leak in the master cylinder or brake lines?


Just wanting to know more. I am a noob, but these are all valid questions (I think...).

[ivwshane]

Since most things electrical work on a closed ground loop, would this be an indication that the switch is still making contact with a grounded surface? When people say their headlights are dim, the response always seems to be, "check your grounds". So a dim bulb should indicate a weak ground connection but because it's lit when it shouldn't be then that should indicate an errant ground somewhere. To me that means it's either going to be at the switch, the bulb, or a wire that has worn through because it's rubbing against metal somewhere.
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77 westy 2.0 FI
69 ghia coup 1600dp
70 single cab

[SGKent]

move your stogie away from the light so the reflection isn't picked up in it.


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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[skills@eurocarsplus]

bad diode in the light most likely...providing all connections are correct and clean.

light comes on with key, regardless if brake is pulled. light goes out when running cuz it's hooked into the charge circuit. or a bad connection causing feedback.

I dealt with this once...iirc it was a bad ground...but it was a 2 min fix with a dvom and a power probe
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[TomWesty]

[airschooled]

[WESTYJACK]

FEEDBACK from the switch on the master cylinder
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VW bus type 2 1978 transplant engine 1975 1800cc fuel injection

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[airschooled]

[SGKent]

Don - it is Ok, calm down - its a millennial thing. They only need us for Go-Fund-Me's.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[chachi]

while i see the point in trying to keep this just to noobs, in the real world, most fixes are very difficult for long time bus mechanics to diagnose over the internet. seems like the most knowledge comes from the most people.
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'74 transporter panel
'91 vanagon carat NAHT

[Xevin]

I’ll derail for a moment. This thread is about trouble shooting for noobs. But I think it’s also good for the noobs to see how the experienced and knowledgeable users interact on this forum. Many of us have met or know someone who knows someone. Lots of different personalities on here. I see people accuse Skills, Tram, Hazetguy, and others of being assholes. When really they just trying to help. Don’t blame them when you refuse their advice and they turn up the heat for wasting their time. True some people are just A holes taking personal shots. Learn the difference.

We already lost OldDKP, Desertbusman, and Tom passed. Skills you’d better not leave. Get back in the Bar


Link

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Keep on Busin'

[telford dorr]

Advanced info, not shown in the Bentley schematics (probably not be relevant here, but can't hurt to know how it works inside...)

["X" terminal typically grounded.]

Note: diodes are 1N4148, transistors are 2N3904 (they work for repairs...), and bulbs do plug in.
Lamp lights by:
- grounding 61
- applying 12 volts to "K"
- ungrounding "X"
- pressing red lens (for those models which support this feature; switch not shown above)
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'71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST)

[babysnakes]

OOOH, OOOH, Mr. Kotter, MR. Kotter.....remove the bulb or paint the lens black.

[KentABQ]