In a message dated 09/01/2005 4:10:55 AM Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

Is it  just me or are the lighter/12V dash outlets in Vanagons a totally
useless  waste?

I've never gotten any good use out of the one in my '84,  everything
always seems to fall out as it isn't deep enough.  On top  of that the
mounting scheme with the plastic ring to hold it in place is  pretty
worthless, especially after a couple tabs break off.

Does  anyone have any good mods for making the lighter port more usefull,
stable,  etc.

Are the greenish plastic rings still available from VW?  I  have my dash
out at the moment and would at minimum like to replace my  broken ring and
possibly epoxy it to the dash so it can't break or work its  way out in
the future.

Thanks!
Tolga

Yes, you got that right.  The VW ones are  a tad larger in diameter so some
of the plugs we get do not fit well.   It's not the depth.  Two solutions which
I have done.  One, glue the  green ring to the dash and use only plugs that
do not fall out.  Two,  replace the entire unit for one from your local FLAPS.
They have north  American standard ones with or without the lighted ring.

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 09 ~ 12, 2005
'87 Westy, '90 Carat &  Lionel Trains
Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
(http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/)  & _CCVWC_
(http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in  the Ottawa Valley
_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Mufflers_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
or  http://frankcondelli.com