My switch went bad on me a couple of years ago.  Of course it happened on
the first night of a three week trip across country.  I didn't have the
smoke to alert me that there was going to be a problem.  Of course nobody
had a switch between Bend OR, and Denver CO.  We thankfully had aux.driving
lights for the half hour we were in the mountains without our regular
lights.  Once we located a switch, it was very simple to unplug the bad, and
plug in the new.  By the way, this was my very first diagnose, and fix it
myself problem.  I was pretty proud of myself at the time.   : )  I wish
that I had you guys back then, but I am happy to have you now.  I have
learned so much!  Big Hugs for each and every one of you!

Julianna
90 VW Vanagon Westfalia
76  VW Automatic Bay Westfalia

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Winesette" <Chriswinesette@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2002 6:44 AM
Subject: Smoking Dash

> Last night on the way home I smelt something burning (electrical burn).
It
> went away and then came back.  After a while my dash lights and head
lights
> began turning on and off.  Through the darkness I realized that smoke was
> coming out of my dash (above the headlight switch)  I pulled over and
turned
> the switch off.  I had to drive the rest of the way home pulling the
brights
> on.  Is this what happens when the switch goes bad, or is it more serious.
>
> thanks
> chris
>