Mystery Start Button and Confusing Auxiliary Battery System

[btownsend]

Hello Friends,

I've just picked up an '87 Vanagon and I'm working through the van, cleaning things up and making sure I know how everything works. I've worked my way to the aux. battery system, which has me totally confused.

I'm able to get power from the inverter, which is connected to two brand new lead batteries, but I'm not getting any power from the items in the auxiliary fuse box/panel. I have a feeling that I need to switch that fuse box/panel on, but can't seem to find any switch for it.

There is this mystery switch in the front of the Vanagon, below an LCD screen that I also can't turn on. I have a feeling that all of this is connected. The LCD screen is supposed to measure battery levels. It may help to know that the van came to me with lithium batteries that needed replacing. I replaced those batteries with cheaper lead batteries. It's possible that this is causing some of my problems.

Has anyone seen this system setup before?

Peace, Ben


[/img]

[16CVs]

Call the guy you bought it from, for all we know we know it activates the James Bond smoke screen an road Oiler.

Drives me crazy, people buy a van with custom things going on and don’t enguire upon pick up or the seller does not help them out.

We all love to help but if it’s not standard fare it’s just a WAG.

Stacy
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread.

[Schnippzle]

That looks suspiciously like the launch mechanism for a SAM launcher. If you fire the missile, you can steer it towards your target with the gearstick (if manual).

[fxr]

Here's the diagram in the correct orientation:

There should be enough clues there to decipher it.

I guess the way to switch on the battery and the video screen is to turn on the middle switch (press down on it) and then hold in the START button for 5 seconds.
_________________
Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300

[btownsend]

So, I have found the answer.

Apparently, this is a setup for running lithium batteries. The on switch (when held on for five seconds) turns on the auxiliary battery system ... or a SAM launcher!

Thanks all, BT

[Steve M.]

Better be careful. it could really be let loose a SAM....a silly assed mouse and wreck havoc on your interior.
_________________
This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.