It's a VW electrical problem, add a ground.

Rob
becida@comcast.net

At  4/7/2011 04:53 PM, John Rodgers wrote:
>  I usually have the spade connectors. I love'em - so easy to work with.
>Just got caught out this time. Also have the bayonet types that lock
>like two hands clasping - for connecting ends of two wires.  Love those
>also. Put a little shrink tubing on them, makes a very nice, clean,
>electrically secure connection.
>
>I found five different connectors on my steering column. All five have
>been double-double checked for being plugged in and secure.
>
>When the wipers worked after hitting the railroad bump about 30 minutes
>ago, they performed as if nothing was wrong. When turned off, they
>parked properly, but would not come back on when prompted. That's GOT to
>be a loose connection some place - but where? That is the question.
>
>BTW, I just got in the programmable wiper relay, but until I solve this
>riddle, I don't want to install it.
>
>As for the horn ring - it was dead. a section of the brass/copper was
>missing completely and the wiper that contacts the surface for the
>electrical contact was worn to a point on one side with a good piece
>missing on the other. I trimmed it, sanded lightly so the end was in a
>very slight curve, polished the surface to bright metallic, bent it
>slightly to make contact, and installed the thing. Installed it all,
>turned the ignition - and the horn sounded. What the heck!!! I tried it
>again, same thing. Another one of those mysteries. Something not right
>somewhere.
>
>Not to blow my own horn to much, but I'm a fairly decent mechanic and
>trouble shooter when I have the info and the tools with which to work.
>done a lot of aircraft mechanicing in my day, so it's ot like there are
>no skills. I feel that the most obvious things have been taken care off,
>but the real problems are a little deeper. So, in a little deeper. Ain't
>it fun?? This mystery stuff!  'cep'in the horn and wipers are safety
>items and need fix'in bad.
>
>John
>
>John Rodgers
>Clayartist and Moldmaker
>88'GL VW Bus Driver
>Chelsea, AL
>Http://www.moldhaus.com
>
>
>On 4/7/2011 3:49 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
>>hi.
>>that female spade connector..
>>is about the most common wire connector there is .....
>>particularly in VW.
>>Surprised you don't have 20 of them laying around. ..like even in your
>>road parts and tool kit.
>>Can't work on VW's without them.
>>
>>the new horn contact rings come that way, I just got one. No big deal.
>>
>>you are sure all the switch connectors are plugged in around the
>>steering column ?
>>there are 2 or 3 there.
>>
>>I've never seen wipers not work in at least some mode.
>>I'd say check your work carefully.
>>there is an intermittent wiper relay device ...doubt that's your problem.
>>I think the wipers will work but not self-park if that part is bad or
>>missing.
>>
>>btw ..
>>the horn contact rings wear badly after these 25 years or so.
>>One spot, in the 5 o'clock position ( as you sit in the driver's seat
>>looking at the steering wheel ) gets all the wear.
>>at the very minimum ...all vanagons should have 'something' for a lube
>>on that contact arm, that rubs on the contact ring ...wd-40
>>.....dielectric grease ...'something' once in a while.
>>They can not run bone dry for 25+ years without tearing up the horn
>>contact ring in that one spot.
>>and the arm that rubs on it for electrical contact.
>>
>>the arm that rubs on it..those get trashed..
>>clean that up, smooth it out with a small file, rebend it for a new
>>contact spot, etc.
>>
>>Left completely untouched 'forever' ..
>>it's just get mangled and tear itself up ...result - no horn.
>>
>>Scott
>>www.turbovans.com
>>
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
>>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2011 12:31 PM
>>Subject: Wipers STILL don't work!! Arrgh!!
>>
>>
>>>  Triple Argh!!!
>>>
>>>Just installed new ignition switch and new horn contact ring. But for
>>>one item, the job went off without a hitch. Didn't see any problems with
>>>old parts coming out, nor with new parts going in. Went very smoothly
>>>except for the "But for one item" part. In that case, I discovered the
>>>new horn contact wire came with a different connector on the end of the
>>>connection wire. The connection is a blade type, and the new female side
>>>of the connection was one half the width of the old female connector.
>>>Meaning, there was no way that new female side was going to fit the old
>>>blade. I had to jump through some hoops to find the correct replacement
>>>connector. Where I live - in a fairly rural area, made distant trips to
>>>various FLAP"S necessary to find that single correct connector. Found
>>>it, fixed it, put the steering well back on. Reconnected the battery,
>>>put in the key, started her up. No problem. But - when  testing the
>>>wipers - NO GO! Jiggled the key - still no go. Checked fuses, OK.  So
>>>now I'm stumped. The ignition switch is supposed to be the most likely
>>>culprit in wiper failure, but apparently not in my case.
>>>
>>>Any ideas as to where to start trouble shooting??
>>>
>>>Thanks,
>>>
>>>John
>>>
>>>--
>>>John Rodgers
>>>Clayartist and Moldmaker
>>>88'GL VW Bus Driver
>>>Chelsea, AL
>>>Http://www.moldhaus.com
>>
>>