Thanks all for help & advice...   I was wrong about my van only having
one #10 star ground, it actually has two I just didn't see it.
However, both were clean & tight and showed zero ohms to each other
and to the van body.  I also checked the ground on the T14 connector
and it also shows zero ohms to ground.

Now that I'm thinking about this more, I do remember a few times in
the past years where the instrument lighting would go out, to which a
gentle swap with my hand to the instrument cluster would usually fix it.

I also noticed that the instrument cluster itself has that horrible
"foil on plastic" circuit board, and it's not in great shape in a few
places.  So, maybe the cluster itself has a short or break.

I may go see if a local wrecker has a good used one, and see if
"reconnaissance by parts" is the way to go...

On Dec 22, 2008, at 3:57 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:

> I think that 22 in a circle is a type on the diagram.
> the other circled #'s are grounds  as listed on page 97.60, and no
> 22 is
> shown there,
> and it makes no sense that there would be a ground connection in the
> middle
> of the circuit between bottom of S13 and the things that receive and
> use its
> voltage.
>
> also...........The two terminal 30's at to top of the light switch
> are in
> common, or connected,and it's actually drawn that way, but it's not
> obvious,
> or at least not obvious to me ...........looks more like the 'box'
> of the
> light switch, but it's not.  The two 30's both get power from S9, in
> case
> that confused anyone.
>
> the circle 16 ground isn't on the ground list on
> 97.60 ...........but I'd
> suspect it goes to the 'star' ground thing,
> Or I'd just make sure that pin 3 on T14 gets to a good ground. I
> always use
> an  'eye'wire  terminal and sheet metal screw, not a push on spade
> wire
> conenctor, and to be really cool, it's good to put a jagged multi-
> point lock
> washer between the wire eye terminal and the metal you are grounding
> it to.
>
> I have one instrument cluster with those grounds on the printed
> cirucit,
> where T14 plugs onto it............ burnt out, from someone
> getting radio voltage from the wrong place.  You might look at those
> carefully - the printed circuit where T14 plus onto it.   kinda a
> weak area.
> scott
> www.turbovans.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michael Diehr" <md03@XOCHI.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 3:12 PM
> Subject: Re: Headlight swtich diagnostics?
>
>
>> Ok, more info:
>>
>> I'm 99% sure it's not the headlight switch, as I've isolated the
>> problem : when I short across connector 30 to 58b (instrument panel
>> lite dim), instead of getting instrument panel lights, some of the
>> LEDs light up.  If I do this while the engine is running, then the
>> tach and clock go dead.
>>
>> According to Bentley page 97.63, this current track goes as follows:
>>
>> terminal 30 on headlight switch to terminal 58b on headlight switch
>> via the dimmer
>> Fuse S13
>> Track 68 (cigarette lighter light)
>> Track 67 (blower fan control lever light)
>> (to a mysterious circle labeled 22)
>> to the instrument panel lights via T14 connector 1
>> out to instrument panel ground via T14 connector 3
>> To ground, labeled 16
>>
>> If I had to guess, I'd guess that Ground #16 is bad.  However, there
>> is no ground #16 listed in benteley on page 97.60.
>>
>> I checked and cleaned the other grounds (including ground #10 the
>> star
>> connector above the fuse box -- however my van only has one star
>> connector there).
>>
>> Any idea where ground "16" lives?
>>
>>
>>
>> On Dec 22, 2008, at 11:14 AM, Ken Wilford wrote:
>>
>>> It does sound like a ground issue to me as well.  Check the grounds
>>> that
>>> are located behind the fuse panel.  You should be able to remove a
>>> couple of screws and drop the panel down and you will see the ground
>>> connections to the left.  There are a bunch and they are clustered
>>> together on a grounding "star" connector.  Check each ground on
>>> these
>>> two connectors and clean them as you go.  You will probably find
>>> that
>>> one of the ends of the ground wires has broken and you will need to
>>> crimp a new one on.  That is what I believe is going on.  The ground
>>> has
>>> gone bad and the headlights are seeking a ground through the
>>> instrument
>>> cluster.  You shouldn't need a new headlight switch but if you find
>>> you
>>> need something please let me know.
>>>
>>> Ken Wilford
>>> John 3:16
>>> www.vanagain.com
>>>
>>>
>>> Michael Diehr wrote:
>>>> 1985 Westy -- just last night started misbehaving.   Symptoms:
>>>> with
>>>> ignition off + headlight switch on, three LEDs in the dashboard
>>>> glow.
>>>> With engine running + headlight switch off - normal.   Engine
>>>> running
>>>> + headlight switch on, all dash instruments (including lighting) go
>>>> dead.   The load reduction relay seems to work fine (e.g.
>>>> headlights
>>>> on + ignition on = headlights work, and when you crank the starter
>>>> the
>>>> headlights go out).  Toggling high beams doesn't do anything weird.
>>>> This sounds like a ground issue from a failing headlight switch?
>>>> Wiggling the ignition key doesn't seem to change anything in any
>>>> state.
>>>>
>>>> Unfortunately the van is about to go on a long trip, so need the
>>>> part
>>>> asap etc.  Are there any surefire diagnostics I can do?  I have
>>>> voltmeter & bentley.  Thanks!
>>>>