"reconnaissance" or did you mean Renascence  ? ( not spelled right I know,
can't get close enough to it for the spell checker to figure it out )
yeah.......all printed circuits just get tired after a while.
They're used in Volvo tail lights too, and are always making poor contact
here and there...........in a 740 series vovlo.
Very inexpensive during the manufacturing though I bet.
Having a spare or two isn't a bad idea.

when I've found a problem with ground at the star things, it was how the
push-on spade connectors didn't grab what they go very well anymore.
The connection from star to ground was fine.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Diehr" <md03@xochi.com>
To: "Scott Daniel - Turbovans" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Cc: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 5:02 PM
Subject: Re: Headlight swtich diagnostics?

> 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!
>>>>>
>