I was skeptical about two recent improvements I completed today on my 1989
Vanagon camper.

1. Replacing my transmission fluid with Red Line MT 90 gear oil.
2. My mediocre million candle auxiliary lights. See them at
http://members.home.net/holisticdream/temporary.htm

1. First, when I lubricated my clutch linkage a month ago and noticed a
great improvement in shifting gears I did not think the Red Line gear oil
would make that much difference being skeptical about manufacturer claims. I
just got back from a test run and there definitely is a big difference in
the smoothness of shifting with the new transmission fluid.

2. Second, I did not realize how poor electrical grounding or perhaps
corroded connections might affect electrical system performance. I've read
many times on this list how cleaning electrical connections or switches
might improve conditions.

When I bought my Vanagon over one month ago and the seller showed me the
million candle auxiliary lights, I was not impressed. They were not even as
bright as the regular headlights and far inferior to the high beams. They
were mediocre and I thought useless.

However, today when Tweeters discovered a bad ground to those lights and
fixed that along with a new relay (all for free) I did not notice the
improvement until I drove the van just now for a test run at night. The
auxiliary lights really are bright million candlepower lights. Bright as
daylight! http://members.home.net/holisticdream/temporary.htm

I thought this progress report might be valuable to others on the list who
may not know their lights or other electrical systems are not operating at
peak performance. I'm inclined now to clean all my electrical connections or
at the very least re seat all ground wires.

In cooperation,
William Polowniak
Vanagon site http://members.home.net/holisticdream/vanagon1989.htm