Thanks for the heads up.

I've pulled almost all the electrical stuff off my 85 parts van. I'll
double check condition of things before swapping it over.

With a Vanagon that *may* have a poorly maintained cooling system,
that rad fan motor would see a lot of action. (poor cooling could be
one reason why those poor vans ended up in the yard? --- ;^)

Neil.

On 1/22/08, Joe Federici <joefederici@earthlink.net> wrote:
> Recently I added AC to my van and in the process changed over the
> wiring harness from a non-AC to one used on the AC so I could pick up
> the med speed fan relay in the fuse panel. What I found interesting
> was the tiny ground it use by the fuse panel, I added a second at the
> fan.
>
> I also noticed on most of the vans (I looked at 3 in the junk yard in
> PA) that the larger female spade connector that connects from the
> harness to the high speed fan relay was cracked on most of the
> harness. This is the relay that is up behind the fuse panel. The
> power going to it was fine. Not sure if it was due to the angle or
> what but if your in there I'd take a look.
>
> JFF
>
>
> On Jan 22, 2008, at 12:14 PM, neil N wrote:
>
> Thanks Mark. The help is appreciated, and as a side note, I must say I
> have learned a lot being on this list.
>
> I'll stick with the stock design though I *may* install an LED that
> would indicate when fan is on.
>
> Interesting to note what can happen with over useage of the high speed
> part of the rad fan circuit. When doing electrical work on my Westy
> last year, I was surprised to see one of the heavier gauge female
> spade connectors to one of the fuses was starting to melt. Of course i
> replaced the connector, but you'd think the original design wouldn't
> allow that to happen. Anyway.....
>
> Thanks again. I'll do my best to think things through before posting
> such strange ideas to this list. --- :^)
>
> "Now wheres my drawings for that new oblong wheel I was
> designing....." --- ;^)
>
>
> Neil.
>
> On Jan 22, 2008 6:07 AM, Mark Drillock <mdrillock@cox.net> wrote:
> > Neil, the high speed fan relay is seldom triggered and thus
> > unlikely to
> > fail. On a few vans I have put a manual switch in to activate high
> > speed
> > for special circumstances, using the manual switch to turn on the
> > relay.
> >
> > One thing I would point out is that the older wiring may not really
> > withstand heavy use of high speed and I have seen overheating and
> > melting at the fan fuse holder at S7 on pre 86 models wired to use
> > high
> > speed more often than stock.
> >
> > Mark
> >
> >
> > neil N wrote:
> >> Hi Mark.
> >>
> >> Thanks.
> >>
> >>> Use the relay for sure and make certain to fuse things properly.
> >>
> >> For sure I will. I have the fuse panel and relays from the 85. I was
> >> just "wondering out loud" about making things simpler. --- :^)
> >>
> >> In my rambling thoughts, I figured that relays do fail, so why not
> >> make it so that the only other major part (aside from the fan!) that
> >> could fail would be the thermo switche(s) or fuse. But this thinking
> >> is based on a lack of knowledge. i.e. obviously I don't fully
> >> understand why the relay is in the circuit in the first place.
> >>
> >>> ...........
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco"
> http://web.mac.com/tubaneil
>
> Engine swap beginings: http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>

--
Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia - "Jaco"
http://web.mac.com/tubaneil

Engine swap beginings: http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/