Ok that's interesting. My 81 doesn't have that 50 wire to brake light
module, IIRC.

On Thursday, December 15, 2016, David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net> wrote:

> According to the diagram it did.  Later years don't.
>
> On Thu, Dec 15, 2016 at 4:00 PM, Neil N <musomuso@gmail.com
> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','musomuso@gmail.com');>> wrote:
>
>> heh. "Sadly", no magic smoke released; our fellow campers ended up
>> with a lack lustre afternoon.  LOL.
>>
>> I see earlier BA6 diagrams in my Bentley but the are quite similar (to
>> my untrained eye) to the later style. I may peruse the Diesel Vanagon
>> BA6 diagrams.
>>
>> The dash lights did work then after the owner took it for a drive,
>> they failed. I checked light operation while fuse panel was lowered
>> but did not check them after re-attaching the fuse panel. I'm
>> suspecting a rogue wire or other part above fuse panel is causing the
>> short. Maybe a wire from the load side of the fuse slipped off when
>> panel was lowered for the headlight relay install (by someone else).
>> It's that or something to do with the decomissioned fog lights; that
>> circuit may still be live though I found no power at wire that was
>> connected to lights at bumper area.
>>
>> The 50 wire must've connected to the brake light module at one point.
>> The shrink wrap that covered the now removed terminal does not look
>> OEM at all.
>>
>> Neil.
>>
>> On 12/15/16, David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net
>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','dbeierl@attglobal.net');>> wrote:
>> > Too bad it's an '85.  '84 and earlier would have smoked the harness and
>> let
>> > you know right away where the short was. ;-)
>> >
>> > BA6 diagram in Bentley is only for 2.1l with the new fuse block, so no
>> help
>> > with the specifics of how that one was put in.
>> >
>> > I've got no clue why they ran 50 to the brake/seat belt light module.  I
>> > can't even see them in daylight, so I drilled a hole in the brake one to
>> > let the light out, and I ignore the other one.  Perhaps it's a trigger
>> to
>> > start a timeout for the belt one after you start the engine?
>> >
>> > Yrs,
>> > d
>> >
>> > On Wed, Dec 14, 2016 at 8:32 PM, Neil N <musomuso@gmail.com
>> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','musomuso@gmail.com');>> wrote:
>> >
>> >> Hi all.
>> >>
>> >> Im far from home on a road trip, traveling with a friend who owns an
>> 1985
>> >> westy. All of his dash lights were out. The S13 blade type fuse had
>> >> failed.
>> >> A new fuse also failed. The following systems are present but
>> >> decommissioned: aux ba6 gas heater, Anti theft devices, possible fog
>> >> light
>> >> relay, "factory" looking fog light switch at RH side of instrument
>> >> cluster.
>> >>
>> >> Though I thought we'd found the short, and though I "fixed" his dash
>> >> lights, I'm not certain the cause of fuse failure was really resolved.
>> I
>> >> originally thought a damaged (exposed copper) piggybacked wire off the
>> 30
>> >> wire to the gas heater relay was shorting to the frame causing fuse S13
>> >> to
>> >> blow, but that wire tested for battery voltage in spite of the fuse in
>> >> question being blown. And, looking at the wiring diagrams, I don't see
>> >> S13
>> >> involved with the gas heater circuits. Does the gas heater use s13 in
>> any
>> >> way?
>> >>
>> >>  All told, I cleaned up the anti theft wiring, capped and,or repaired
>> >> various stock wires at cluster and dash, removed some non op wires,
>> >> installed a new dahs light, added shrink wrap and tape to non insulated
>> >> exposed terminals at what is likely the fog light relay.
>> >>
>> >> It's possible the exposed terminals at the loose mystery relay,
>> >> remaining
>> >> dangling exterior fog light wire (end rested on frame, albeit a dirty
>> >> connection if any) could've been the source of the short but im
>> concerned
>> >> only I "fixed" the problem by inadvertently moving a shorting out wire
>> or
>> >> whatever away from frame metal and that the issue may happen again.
>> >>
>> >> This is a separate issue, but does the 50 wire to the brake warning
>> light
>> >> simply turn off the light when cranking engine? That wire has been
>> >> removed
>> >> from the connector. It was likely used as part of a starter motor anti
>> >> theft device.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> TIA a bunch,
>> >>
>> >> Neil.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Neil n
>> >>
>> >> Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>
>> >>
>> >> 1988 Westy Images <https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy>
>> >>
>> >> 1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical
>> >> <http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/>
>> >>
>> >> Vanagon-Bus VAG Gas Engine Swap Group <http://tinyurl.com/khalbay>
>> >>
>> >
>>
>>
>> --
>> Neil n
>>
>> Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>
>>
>> 1988 Westy Images <https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy>
>>
>> 1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical <http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>> >
>>
>> Vanagon-Bus VAG Gas Engine Swap Group <http://tinyurl.com/khalbay>
>>
>
>

--
Neil n

Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>

1988 Westy Images <https://picasaweb.google.com/musomuso/New1988Westy>

1981 Westfalia "Jaco" Images, technical <http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/>

Vanagon-Bus VAG Gas Engine Swap Group <http://tinyurl.com/khalbay>