Leon:
I'd agree on all but one- the reason your heater fan switch fails is
that the fan motor's lube has failed.
I, too thought the switches under designed till I found out the fuses
and then the wires were underdesigned, too. All melting.
The car was only 13 years old at the time.  Many 13 year old cars don't
have this problem. they are run thru a shredder and on ships on their
way to China to make widgets for Walmart. They should be so lucky as our
Vanagons. Having said that, I have a 2.2 Subie on my shop floor and it
IS a thing  of beauty. It will be hard to resist replacing my leaky, but
proven Waterboxer with it.
Al Brase

Leon wrote:

> Well said.
> Vanagon wiring was pathetic to start with.How many have heater fan switch
> permanently in position 3?
> Ground screws had only threads to contact body.Noticed as soon as i
> bought
> my first Vanagon.
> Rust almost "disconnected" grounds.
> Dremel tool fixed it quickly and much larger area and higher pressure
> made
> much better ground connection.In fact i got 2 ground straps in back.
> That spade terminal barely holding mating part on starter doesn't help
> either.
> Some squeezing helps.Wish there was stud instead.
> I am happy no longer having wasserboxer' pathetic looking engine wiring
> With Subaru engine it looks and functions like modern vehicle
> Leon
> 86 SyncroSubTransporter...soon
>
>