In a message dated 5/30/2004 9:44:31 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
afox@CNR.COLOSTATE.EDU writes:

> know of a vanagon shop or other good repair shop in the yellowstone
> area of montana?  I have a friend with an 86 gold westy who's there now
> and is dealing with electrical gremlins

A common problem with the electrical system is the overloaded fuse which
powers the wipers and the heater blower motor. If your friend was operating both
the heater fan and the wipers at the same time it can lead to overheating of
the wires. ALso sometimes--especially if the heating blower fan is noisy or
squeeky--the heater blower fan is going, going, and if it gets to gone it can melt
the wires.

Is is possible some fuses have blown or has theat already been checked? If
the fuses are OK, A temporary fix could be to look at the wires at the fuse box
and replace those that have melted and NOT use the heater blower until it can
be replaced. And going back, if it is just fuses blown and the heater blower
is suspect I would suggest not using the heater blower until it is checked out.

Remember that melted wires can lead to a fire so any repairs should be taken
with care--and any elecrtical gremlins of this sort--the burning wire
sort--should be repaired ASAP to avoid a possible fire.

Sorry I don't know of a Vanagon savvy shop in that area. I seem to remember
here is a repair garage in Yellowstone near Bridge Bay or thereabouts. I have
no experiance with the shop, but if the shop seems incapable of working on a
Vanangon which is a possibility perhaps they know of a shop "nearby"--which
can't be all that nearby with the size of Yellowstone.

Best
Jeff
83.5 Westfalia
LA,CA

Best-
Jeff
83.5 Westfalia
LA,CA