Thank you very much, everyone who replied to my emails of yesterday.  I
really did want to hear lots of views on transportation modes, and I
appreciate all of your replies.

This morning I took to the headlight with the Bentley and the screwdriver,
removed the assembly, drained out the water, and I'm studying the pinhole.

I had a couple of suggestions on pinhole repair - clear silicone, aquarium
sealant, and a windshield stone chip repair kit.  Are these actually all
essentially the same?  Any advice on sealing the tiny hole before I start?
Sealant outside the lens or inside?  Or some of each?

I also had a couple of warnings not to break the plastic housing into which
the headlight assembly screws.  Well, the PO already did that for me.  The
outer (low, rectangular) beams are attached with three screws, two on the
inside (relative to the edge of the van) and one on the outside.  The
housing on the outside screws of both headlights is basically gone.  In
fact, the headlights have wiggled in place for as long as I've had the van -
I'm surprised the inspectors didn't get me on that.

Can I replace the housing?  Or is there some other recommended fix for that?

And I'm going to be a little less of a goody-two-shoes, and take the van to
a different inspector, blow another $15, and hopefully she'll pass
inspection with my sealed headlight.

Next, gotta figure out why my new license plate bulb is dimmer than the old
one.

Maybe I'm even educable on the subject of really minor repairs?

Joy

p.s.  To the fulltimers list - my apologies for this mechanical post!  :-)

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Joy Hecht
and Matilda, 1989 Burgundy Vanagon

For musings about life and the vanadventures:
http://users.rcn.com/jhecht/gypsy

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