As an FYI, 

Several years ago I purchased a 12v NiCad/NiMH battery charger and mounted it in the glove box.  I keep several of those flashlights around with a couple extra rechargeable AA and AAA batteries.  I also installed a small switch so I can turn it on or off, so it won't run the battery down when sitting for several weeks.

Greg
Bartlett, TN

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Richard Koerner
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2016 7:47 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Wrecker find today, 2wd tin top made in Austria

And FYI, I find that those ubiquitous 9 LED flashlights, you know the cylindrical ones that are about 3" in length and 1" in diameter and take 3 AAA batteries and available in many colors of the rainbow, are a FAR superior solution to reading maps in the dark instead of being hunched over with a dim light above the glovebox.  So my van has 2 of those mounted for ready access, a 3rd one in the glovebox, and a bunch of AAA batteries in the drawer.  Ready for reading maps or WHATEVER.
Tremendous battery life and performance from those things, around $1 each.

I always smear some general purpose grease on contacts in flashlight and on the ends of the batteries, just a smear.  Defeats corrosion superbly.  No, NOT di-electric grease, just white lithium grease or whatever, practically anything, Vaseline is good too.  I live 1 mile from the ocean with a salty sea-breeze, and a little grease goes a long way, keeps things working.  Especially when you need it most.

Rich
San Diego

      From: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
 To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
 Sent: Friday, April 15, 2016 5:19 PM
 Subject: Re: Wrecker find today, 2wd tin top made in Austria
   
Your comment.... "That silly wonderful map light? Yeah the switch can be broken by a stiff or otherwise cadaver. Only takes a feather touch to turn on/off..."
That "feather touch" is so true; like when wiping down the interior with a moist chamois after car washing.  Numerous times I noticed the light was on accidentally after doing so.  With car parked in garage for many days until the next outing and not noticing, a superb candidate for dead battery.
I removed bulb, tossed into glove box, and there it remains.
Rich
San Diego

      From: Phil Zimmerman <philzimm1@SHAW.CA>
 To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
 Sent: Friday, April 15, 2016 5:11 PM
 Subject: Re: Wrecker find today, 2wd tin top made in Austria
  
Right or wrong a '91 2wd assembled in Graz in pretty cool.
I know of a'92 syncro weekender assembled in Graz (Valid VIN)...
Now resides in Nanaimo, BC. Sent to BC as a Dealer loaner kept in Vancouver.
Used as a weekend ski Van to Whistler as the story goes.

Perhaps mumbo-jumbo (on gerry vanagon): left over'90 Vanagons in Cali were re-VIN'ed as'91's? Have not read where this has been validated or confirmed?

The part of this story that I believe to be true is around, the bodies were pressed in Hannover and sent to Graz for storage and assembly as either 2wd/4wd during the'91-92 dates of manufacture.
Posses the question: were any '91-92 full-campers assembled in Graz?
As full-campers were assembled in Westphalia??
Anyone have a full-camper with a Graz initial in the VIN?

That silly wonderful map light? Yeah the switch can be broken by a stiff or otherwise cadaver. Only takes a feather touch to turn on/off...
Anything more... takes a re-build.

Happy Fryeday

Phil z.
---------------
On Wed, 13 Apr 2016 19:04:29 -0700, BenT <syncro@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>It is my understanding that all 90-91 T3's were assembled in Graz.
>BenT
>sent from my electronic leash

>> On Apr 13, 2016, at 6:45 PM, Alistair Bel <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>> Got the chance to got to local wreckers today and found something 
>> pretty
rare, an "assembled in Austria " 2wd tin top. Year of manufacture was listed as 91. One of the 2wd vans made in Graz when the Hannover plant switched to
T4 production.-----------
>> Alistair