I've been losing instrument panel illumination lights (speedo and middle
panel now), and figured it was just burned out bulbs.  Tried replacing the
bulbs, but no go.  Switched a working socket unit to a socket location that
had been burned out, and no go.  So I figure the foil has got a break (or
breaks) in it someplace.  Anybody disagree with that logic?

This is a dealer-only part apparently, and I was quoted $116.00 plus taxes
from the dealer.  That's a lot of money for me.  (Other dealer humour: in
the same phone call I asked for a price on a set of rear seat lap
belts--that's just one belt pair, male and female sides.  $201.20 plus
taxes!!).

The foil is apparently the same for all 81-83 vanagons, regardless of
powerplant or CA, US, or Canadian spec.

Are these things repairable?  Easily?  I'm totally a klutz when it comes to
soldering, so I'm not optimistic on this.

Any other diagnostics anyone can suggest?

What would I expect to pay for this foil from a wrecker?  Anybody have a
line on one they'd be interested in selling?

My fuel guage also does not work.  It reads full when full, but then
quickly drops down to empty and stays there after only about 25 miles.  I
suspect it's the sender, but heck, maybe I'm getting fixated on that foil...

T.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tobin Copley   Bowen Island, BC, Canada              tobin.copley@ubc.ca

'82 westy 1.6L NA diesel ("Stinky")
'97 son Russell                                   =============
'99 daughter Margaret                            /_| |__| |__|:| clatter
1995: 'Round US, Mexico, Canada 15,000 mi       O|.           .| clatter!
1996: Vancouver to Inuvik, NWT   7,400 km        ~-()-==----()-~
Previous buses: '76 westy deluxe (Daisy), '76 westy standard (Mango)
http://www.sfu.ca/~tcopley/vw/