Looks like you hit the nail on the head …at lest so far 

I did locate the wire bundle it was hidden under two rubber hoses held in place with 3 zip ties 

and it was melted and crinkled so now will open it and see what we will se 

Am assuming will need to splice in new sections 

Is there a tubing available like one the wires were in to replace or will I need to use shrink tubing 

I will use shrink tubbing on the actual splices 

Any advice before I start on this project 

I will be working in the driveway or our new town house and the HOA does not allow working on cars in the driveway  so have it backed up tight to the door 

With the storage box and solar panel on the roof can not get it in the garage 

Now I realize that the damage occurred just before the virus   Was packing the van hoping to get out  

Started it up to run an errand ran a bit rough in a block really ruff like backfiring etc  by the time got the 4 blocks back home smoke was pouring out the back 
and the muffler blew out    so that is where the heat came from 

The main computer went out along with ignitors    had to have it all replaced  

The guts were blown out of the Cat converter into the muffler 

I have a 93 Sube engine   and it was using oil like no tomorrow also  so found out it is not uncommon for this engine to need head gaskets replaced 
as that is the source of the oil usage 

Once I fix the wiring hope to be back out …. but getting late in the fire season to get too far in the mountains on BLM ( the other ) roads 

Thanks again with out this list I wold be lost 

and thanks again to Jim Arnott who worked to solve my issues with gerry 

ed

> On Jun 9, 2020, at 9:46 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> If not a ground problem than you may have some wires crossed or shorted together. You're going to need to do some troubleshooting. It is not that uncommon for the rear harness to be sitting on the tin over the muffler causing heat damage to the wire insulation. It is also possible that the rear harness was disconnected at the junction box and connectors swapped or other damage has occurred.  
> 
> Dennis
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Edward Barger
> Sent: Tuesday, June 9, 2020 2:33 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Wiring problems with tail lights etc
> 
> Hope this is reaching folks on the list 
> 
> I did as Dennis suggested and checked the ground at the tail lights  Pin #3 is the ground 
> 
> Both the taillights have continuity from pin 3 and the chassis   so that seems not to be the problem 
> 
> Any other thoughts ??
> 
> 
> Thanks in advance 
> 
> ed
> 
> VW Problems  with lighting
> 
> 1987 VW Vanagon Westfalia
> 
> 1993 Subaru engine
> 
> 
> 
> All running lights : markers, turn signal, break and back up lights were replaced with LED 4 years ago
> 
> At the time of replacement up till now all worked as expected
> 
> 
> 
> Had some body work done and total re paint  lighting units were removed and re installed
> 
> 
> 
> Now having this happening
> 
> 
> 
> VW Problems  with lighting 
> 
> 1987 VW Vanagon Westfalia 
> 
> 1993 Subaru engine 
> 
> 
> 
> All running lights : markers, turn signal, break and back up lights were replaced with LED 4 years ago 
> 
> At the time of replacement  up till now all worked as expected 
> 
> 
> 
> Had some body work done and total re paint  lighting units were removed and re installed 
> 
> 
> 
> Now having this happening
> 
> 
> 
> 1.  ignition key on Head light switch off : right turn signal activated Front amber signal works normal 
> 
> Rear right turn signal works   But both the right and left side break lights also flash 
> 
> 
> 
> With the head light switch on it is the same with the turn and break lights BUT  now the back up lights are on and the transmission is not in reverse 
> 
> 
> 
> 2.  Ignition key on head lights off : Left turn signal activated  front and rear indicator lights flash normal 
> 
> 
> 
> With the head light switch on : front and real turn signal flash normal 
> 
> BUT the back lights come on and the transmission not in reverse 
> 
> 
> 
> 3. With headlights on or off Left turn signal activated works normal until the breaks are applies then the Left turn signal stops flashing front and rear 
> 
> 
> 
> 4. Ignition key on head lights on van in reverse : backup lights work 
> 
> along with the headlights and running lights 
> 
> 
> 
> Ignition key on head lights off  transmission in reverse back up lights do not work 
> 
> 
> 
> . With the  night running / head lights off:
> 
> The backup light does not come on when in reverse  
> 
> 
> 
> Edward V Barger
> edvbarger@yahoo.com 
> 310 922 6251
> “Age is an issue of mind over matter …
> If you don’t mind it doesn’t  matter "
> Mark Twain