Art

        I agree completely with your assessment of the ~ NewRelays Saving OldSwitches ~ LineOfThought ~

Check out this link ~ scroll down to Waldemar Sikorskis Thu Jan 18, 2007 11:02 am Post ~

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=214519

        It worked great for me & I got my Relays @ RadioShack for under $6ea ~ These I believe 

http://tinyurl.com/kdmmz3a

        or

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3020762&CAWELAID=120125420000004946&catargetid=120125420000031799&cadevice=c&cagpspn=pla&gclid=CK-empiQ0bwCFQNufgodvSYAfg

        Mine reside on the small shelf that is created by the Bracket that attaches the SteeringColumn to the DashBoard ~ Do check out the Kits by Jay Brown "thatvwbusguy@comcast.net" as they are very 

Pro'Done & Priced Nice ~

                                                                                                        ORR ~ DeanB
On 15 Feb , 2014, at 10:56 PM, Art Jury wrote:

> Thank you for the advice I was wondering what hose to get and planning to
> research it.
> 
> I would disagree with this though.  (#2 for me)
> 
> When you have the switches on the dash board switching the relays instead
> of the direct power you should end up switching a lot less current with the
> 25 year old parts.   Every time you switch a high current circuit (for
> instance headlights) you wear out the switch a bit (think small lightning
> bolt).   I can buy 10 good quality relays for $20 (40 amp).  If one fails I
> can just plug another one in.  Im sure Ill come up with something that
> works, NASA let me wire and trouble shoot airplanes for 15 years.
> Electrons I can chase.   The mechanical bits make me scratch my head.  Ill
> try to post something when I come up with a solution and test it for a
> while.
> 
> #2 Check electrical lines, add fuse next to battery and put in relays for
> the headlights (electrical fires bad as well also old eyes need more light).
> Re-feeding the headlight switch from a direct battery supply instead of the
> ignition switch will provide the same results as the relays. Consider
> improving the current path from the alternator to the battery, and then the
> dash board. While driving, the alternator, not the battery is your power
> source. Don't just add fuses to the battery circuits. You need to know what
> you're doing. You can't easily fuse the starter cable.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Sat, Feb 15, 2014 at 5:25 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:
> 
>> See comments below.
>> 
>> Dennis
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
>> Art Jury
>> Sent: Saturday, February 15, 2014 1:12 AM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: vanagon fire
>> 
>> Tracing fuel lines is my next project, thanks for the advice!
>> 
>> The plastic firstarter is not there, the PO had the engine rebuilt and
>> claimed it was taken care of.   Since he was a long time owner of vanagons
>> (and had 2 burn on him) I think he is probably right but since it will be
>> my
>> fat in the fire Ill check it on my own.
>> 
>> I messed up I usually ask for parts so I can fiddle with them but with the
>> time crunch to get the new plates I did not this time.
>> 
>> It was not a big expense in any case but I suspect it did not really fix
>> the
>> problem so I will make it my 3rd or 4th priority.
>> 
>> #1 fuel lines
>> Be sure to get good stuff. The original lasted 15 to 25 years in many
>> cases.
>> All the aftermarket stuff seems to need a 2 to 5 year replacement cycle. VW
>> actually specifies a different hose for the fuel rail supply then other
>> parts of the vehicle. They also changed the clamp design around 90 or so. I
>> get the hose and the outer sleeve from them. Bel-Metric has the good
>> squeeze
>> (crimp) type hose clamps if you like those.
>> 
>> #2 Check electrical lines, add fuse next to battery and put in relays for
>> the headlights (electrical fires bad as well also old eyes need more
>> light).
>> Re-feeding the headlight switch from a direct battery supply instead of the
>> ignition switch will provide the same results as the relays. Consider
>> improving the current path from the alternator to the battery, and then the
>> dash board. While driving, the alternator, not the battery is your power
>> source. Don't just add fuses to the battery circuits. You need to know what
>> you're doing. You can't easily fuse the starter cable.
>> 
>> #3  Fix lose shifter gates, hard to find the gear,  I have driven other
>> vanagons and have a friend that has owned a few so I know it can be made
>> better than it is.
>> A proper adjustment can do wonders. Many shifting problems can be caused by
>> transmission or clutch problems.
>> 
>> # 4  make sure the engine is burning the fuel correctly, I dont know much
>> about engines but incorect combustion can only be wasteful at best and
>> dirty things up at worst.   Fortunately in Washington state after 25 years
>> I no longer have to pass smog and with a 24 year old van that means I'm
>> done.
>> 
>> If you failed any states emissions test program you know you have a
>> problem.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Somewhere between 3 and 4 I hope to make a trip or 2 with my family to
>> enjoy
>> the van.
>> 
>> Thank you for the warm welcome volks!
>> 
>> ARt.
>> 
>> --
>> The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not
>> expect to sit.  ~Nelson Henderson
>> 
>> "You don't pay back, you pay forward."  Robert A. Heinlein
>> 
> 
> 
> 
> --
> The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not
> expect to sit.  ~Nelson Henderson
> 
> "You don't pay back, you pay forward."  Robert A. Heinlein