Thanks David, that's just about what I figured the problem to be.  It gave
me the willies the first time it acted up, after camping for a week on the
Olympic Peninsula, but I am wise to its foibles now and just ignore it.

Someday when my life needs more in it rather than less, I may go ahead and
fix it.  Until then, I can cope.  :-)

On Thu, Nov 6, 2008 at 2:09 PM, David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net> wrote:

> At 05:34 PM 11/5/2008, Jake de Villiers wrote:
>
>> When my '84 does that I just drive it.  It seems to 'dry out ' and stop
>> after a while.
>>
>
> Jake, yours is probably the gauge.  Leaky electrolytic cap that almost
> prevents the blink from shutting off in three seconds as it should, tipped
> over the edge by humidity causing leakage across the board.  Like a lot of
> VW circuits this one is wicked sensitive (i.e. high-impedance).  Cure is
> replace the large capacitor inside the gauge.  Not difficult if you can do
> reasonably delicate soldering.  You have to drill out the face rivets and
> unsolder the delicate leads to the gauge movement, then unsolder the board
> from its mounting to get to the cap.  Tantalum cap is best for replacement
> but aluminum ok.  Remember polarity matters.
>
>
> --
> David Beierl - Providence RI USA -- http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
> '84 Westy "Dutiful Passage," '85 GL "Poor Relation"
>

--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
Crescent Beach, BC
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27