Hi Joe, hi everybody,

On Tue, 1998-12- 1 10:40:57 -0500, Joe Friedrichs wrote:

> November 1st I purchased a Vanagon Syncro and love it. My question is
> with the differential lock. In its normal unlocked position the "switch"
> is pulled out. When pushed in the differential lock is engaged, (this is
> obvious due to the feel of the vehicle when driven and the green light
> which comes on). My questions are: Is the switch supposed to be engaged
> when pulled out?, thus making my switch work in reverse.

The normal  positions for the switch are  (according to all  the owner's
manuals I've seen, all my books and all my personal experience :-)

Pushed in, diff lock NOT engaged, green  light off.  Normal position for
normal driving.

Pulled out, diff lock engaged or about to engage, green light turning on
as soon as  the diff lock  really engages.  On paved  roads (or on other
surfaces with solid traction) only to be used when driving straight.

If your switch works vice versa you basically have three options:

First option:   leave everything as  is  and  live with this  "inverted"
behaviour.   But beware of  letting  another  syncronaut drive your  van
without thoroughly explaining your car's special setup.

Second option: dismount the panel housing the switch and interchange two
of the three  hoses connecting to the  switch.  This is from  memory and
could be wrong, but I think it's the first and third vacuum hose leading
to the switch you'll have to interchange.  The center hose is the "input
line" (if  there is such a  thing as a  "vacuum input"), the outer hoses
are the "output lines" that go to the diff lock.   Removing the panel is
a bit of a pain,  though not really  difficult.  You'll have to  unscrew
the knob of the switch, but beware, you'll have to fix the stub the knob
is screwed on  with  pliers, else it  will  happily turn  with the knob.
Then you'll  have to remove the  screw that attaches   the switch to the
panel.  There are a few screws that hold the panel in  place, some a bit
hidden, which have to be removed, too.

Third option: Get under  your van where  the  gearbox is.  At  the upper
right side of the gearbox (when  looking to the  van's front) there is a
little box attached to the  gearbox, approximately 4"  long, 2" wide and
2" high (again from memory, and I'm not much trained in using inches :-)
with two vacuum hoses connected to it.  That's the device which operates
the diff lock.  Just interchange the two hoses there.

Clearly, I'd opt for this last method.

> ...
>                     Also there are 3 green lights but only one (the
> rear) comes on. Are the other two for syncros with other options such
> as: Front differential lock or disengaging rear wheels?

Exactly.  The  left green light together with  the (not existing in your
van) left switch is for the front diff lock, which, to my knowledge, was
never officially exported to the US market.   And the center green light
together with a  center switch was only used  in very  early versions of
4WD Vanagons  (then not yet  called "Syncros") which  had a mechanically
lockable (bowden  cable)  mechanical   central differential  where  real
Syncros have the viscious coupling.

Hope this helps.

Sincerely
 Rainer

'89 Caravelle Syncro 16"

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