David your problem is broken wires between the body and the driver's or
passenger's door (or both).  It is very easy to troubleshoot as when you
pull back that boot between the door and the body you will see the wires
that are broken.  Simply splice them back together (same color to same
color) and your should solve your problem.  Much easier and less work than
doing a comversion.  About 80% of the time if you are having a problem with
your power windows going up or down you will find the source is a partially
or completely broken wire inside these boots.  Don't feel bad the Eurovans
are still having this problem and they have been around for a much shorter
period of time.

Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
http://www.vanagain.com
http://www.strictlyvwauctions.com
Phone: (856)-327-4936
Fax: (856)-327-2242

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Dave Engstrom
Sent: Friday, September 12, 2003 8:14 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Power Window Problem - Conversion to Manual

I have a 87 Westy with power front windows that have developed an
intermittent problem. Every so often I lose all power to both of the windows
and cannot
get them up or down.  I thought the problem was in the wiring harness to the
drivers door controls.  It seems as if opening or closing the door or moving
the
harness where it goes into the door solves the problem for a while.

I suppose I can trace all the wiring and figure out the problem but I am
thinking I may want to convert to crank windows instead.  Has anyone done
this and
is it a difficult and/or stupid move.

Dave Engstrom
87 Westy
91 Vanagon Carat (parts probably)
96 Beetle
85 Golf
69 Bug
88 Toyota 4x4 pickup (with 220,000 on the odo)