Hello Jerry et al,

Westfalia busses did not have the door switch, but the standard
passenger vans did.  The switch is the same as any other VW door switch
of the same vintage.  There should be a plastic plug covering the hole
on the pillar where the switch mounts.  In order to make this work,
there was a small plastic spacer which is attached to the door which
contacts and depresses the switch when the door is closed.  You need to
hit your local scrapyard and get this plastic piece, or fabricate one.
 I can take a picture of mine and send it to you if that would help.

I made this change to my Westfalia awhile back.  The biggest pain was
fishing the wire down the pillar from the roof.  I used a coathanger to
guide the wire, then connected it to the other switches at the dome
light over the drivers' head.

--

Jon B Kanas

Longmont, Colorado Cultural Center of the Universe
Home: 303-678-0658
Email: kanas@qadas.com
<mailto:kanas@qadas.com> Website:  http://www.qadas.com/~kanas
AOL Instant Messenger ID: KanasColo

vanagon@yahoogroups.com wrote:

>------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
>Message: 1
>   Date: Wed, 09 Apr 2003 00:05:48 -0000
>   From: "hotdog_from_boulder" <hotdog_from_boulder@yahoo.com>
>Subject: Door contact switch, Right sliding.
>
>Folks,
>
>I'm thinking about installing an alarm system in my '87 Vanagon (2.1
>liter, camper).  The aftermarket alarm uses the door contact switch
>(interior light) to indicate an alarm condition.
>
>Bentley says that years '83-'85 had a sliding door contact switch.
>Years '86-'89 did not have a switch.
>
>Does anyone know if the '83-'85 switch would fit in an '87?  Has
>anyone installed an alarm in the '87?  Did they/you install a switch
>on the sliding door?
>
>Thanks,
>Jerry
>
>