The amount of time spent on Tail light preventive maintenence and bulb
replacement is inversely proportional to distance from the equator this time
of year.

Dimwitted Moose and Flying Squirrel....  " Hey Rock, wanna see me pull a
rabbit outta ma hat?"  After all these years, Rocky is still right,  That
trick never works!
----- Original Message -----
From: "TJ Hannink" <tjhannink@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2001 10:11 AM
Subject: Replacing a brake light bulb (long)

> My wife told me that one of my brake lights wasn't working the other day
so I decided to fix the problem. For most people, this is probably a 10
minute job in the driveway, but not for me. So far I have done the
following:
>
> Read the owners manual and determined what type of bulb I needed, #1034
for tail/brake bulb, #1073 for reverse & turn bulbs.
>
> Went to the FLAP's and double checked the Sylvania Bulb selector and they
told me that I needed to use the European P21W/5 for the tail/brake bulb and
a regular P21W for the reverse & turn bulbs. The bulbs looked identical to
the 1034/1073 bulbs but cost more.
>
> Made a decision that since I had never replaced any of the taillight bulbs
that I would replace them all now. Purchased (2) P21W/5 bulbs and (4)1073
bulbs and headed home.
>
> Later that evening, I removed both tail light assemblies and discovered
that I actually needed four bulbs per tail light and none of them was a
P21W/5. I wrote down the part numbers from the old bulbs and headed back to
the FLAP. I ended up purchasing (6) P21W bulbs (for brake, turn and backup)
and (2) R5W bulbs (for tail light) and headed back home.
>
> I cleaned both the lens and socket plate thouroughly with soap and water
and dried. I also cleaned the rear panel of the van, the area's behind (in
front of) the tail lights and the wiring harness and connector cover. I
cleaned the positive contact at each bulb location with Q-tips and polishing
compound,installed the new bulbs and re-assembled the tail lights. The eight
screws that hold the tail light assemblies were soaked overnight in Ospho,
rinsed, lightly sanded and painted with gloss black spray paint.
>
> Later today, I will need to wax the rear panel before re-installing and
testing the tail lights.
>
>
> So, how long does it take to change a brake light bulb? For me, I probably
have a couple of hours into it and a 1/2 hour of work left to do unless
something else pops up. But now, I have the satisfaction that I may not have
to change another tail light bulb in this vehicle for another 15 years. :<)
>
> Vanagons - not just a vehicle, a disease.
>
> Happy Holidays to all
>
> Tim Hannink
> Goldibox - 1987 Vanagon Camper, Wolfsburg Edition
> Winter Park, Florida
> http://home.earthlink.net/~tjhannink/
>
> --
>
>
> Tim Hannink
> Goldibox - 1987 Vanagon Camper, Wolfsburg Edition
> Winter Park, Florida
> http://home.earthlink.net/~tjhannink/