yup, makes total sense.
first time I've seen any problem with a washer/wiper switch on  a vanagon,

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Beierl" <dbeierl@attglobal.net>
To: "Scott Daniel - Turbovans" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Cc: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2010 5:44 PM
Subject: Re: Unfixable 86 Washers, again - figured out

> At 04:49 PM 9/9/2010  -0700, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
>>Weirdness ..
>>you'd think if the washer/wiper stalk can sent out the signal to 'do
>>things'
>>when you pull it toward you, like if it'll make the wipers sweep, you'd
>>think , or I would ..that that's one signal and must be ok, since it does
>>two things ..makes wipers sweep, and washers squirt.
>>Perhaps there are two contacts in the switch for that and one of them
>>won't
>>carry any real load. .
>
> You didn't understand me.  The signal from the wash switch to the wiper
> relay is just that, a signal.  There's no current to speak of, it's just
> telling the wiper relay to do its programmed routine.  The relay gets the
> power to drive the wipers directly from S11.  The washer motor OTOH gets
> its power from S11 *through the wash switch,* and it probably draws a
> couple amps.  If the wash switch has a poor contact, it will pass the tiny
> current to instruct the wiper relay, but if you load it down with the
> pump, the voltage drops so the pump won't run and there's not enough
> voltage to instruct the wiper relay.
>
> Yours,
> David