On 7/19/05, JORDANVW@aol.com <JORDANVW@aol.com> wrote:
> lister Jim King is on the road, and unsubbed from the list, he sent me a
> P-mail asking if i could post this problem up to the list for him..  please
> respond to all..
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> fwd message:
> Subject  Electrical demon advice
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> Please excuse my straight forward request for assistance, but I am using my
> cell phone as a modem on my laptop from the road.
> 
> 1986 Vanagon Sycro Westfalia  VIN: VW2ZB0258GG082766
> 
> I swapped the low beam lamps a few months back and did not  have any
> immediate problems,
> but I guess running on the back roads with the high beams on for 3 hours did
> the trick, and I cooked the headlight switch. When I got to my destination the
> switch was melted in the ON position, and I was forced to unplug the wires to
> the switch to shut off the parking lights so I could camp for the night. This
> morning I re-plugged the switch, and I'm just getting the parking lights, no
> head lights at all.
> The front & rear heater blower fans, and the front wiper/washer is also dead,
> everything else appears to work.
> Oddly if I pull back on the turn signal headlight flasher just the high beams
> flash on.
> I had a good (pre-tested) spare headlight switch along, and I am getting the
> same results with it installed.
> 
> All fuses are good (visual & meter tested)
> 
> Before I dig any deeper here at the campground I figured to just ask the
> group if anyone else has had this happen or has any ideas or work around? I have
> the Bently book  along for reference, basic tools & a soldering iron.
> 
> I unsubscribed to the list for this vacation and hopefully just reactivated
> my subscription. If you can send any replies directly to
> terrapincampers@optonline.net  it will make it much easier for me to retrieve msgs at the snail
> speed this cell phone connection runs at.
> 
> FYI: I'm on the way to the GrassRoots Festival in Trumansburg,  NY via
> Cooperstown so any parts sources, or even repair places along the way would be
> appreciated.
> 
> Thanks,  Jim King
> 
> 914-582-0272 Cell
>    terrapincampers@optonline.net

Jim,

Your ignition switch "X" contact (which powers the "X" or load
reduction relay) is burned out.  You need to replace your ignition
switch (just the electrical part, P/N 171905865).  I would recommend
that you add the headlight relay kits offered by many of our list
vendors, unless you like doing this every once in a while.

If you get to my area, I have a spare ignition switch!

For a "temporary, get me home" fix, you can install a fuse in a
separate holder going from a power source (make sure you don't
overload the source!) to the ignition switch Black/Yellow wire.  I
would recommend using at least a 20 amp fuse.  Of course, you could
use a switch, if you can find one that supports 20 amps...

-- 
Don in Reidsville, NC
1986 Kawasaki Concours
1988 Vanagon GL (Sylvia)
"Why do they call it a fixed income, if mine is always broke?"