Hi everyone, I'm a Vanagon owner living in Germany, and before you say
"spare parts galore" think again.  Having an American Specs Water-Cooled
Vanagon and getting it serviced here--at a reasonable price is worse
than having a Saab in rural Georgia.

It has been a nightmare cross referencing part numbers for small items
like filters and hoses.

Some German mechanics have simply stared at that bundle of wires on the
left having to do with the emissions and all that computerized jazz and
shrugged their shoulders. You would never believe they created the
thing. The first thing they want to do is haul out the wasserboxer and
throw in an aircooled engine--used of course for about $2000.

Here's my latest Vanagon maitenance mystery:  This happens about every
12 hours of operation:

If I switch off the ignition with my headlights on, and then turn the
headlights off at the toggle when I then restart the engine and go to
turn on the headlights they will not work.  All other lights work fine
and even the headlights come on when I do the "flash to pass" pull on
the directional control handle--but the headlights will not illuminate.
Only if I then turn the ignition off with the headlight switch in the
off position and then restart and then swith the lights on will they
work.

I tried just turning the ignition on instead of a full start to try and
trouble shoot, but it seems that it requires a full start everytime.
Simple solution:  Never turn  the ignition off with the headlights on.
I can live with that--but does this indicate a problem somewhere?  Is
there a massive short circuit on the horizon?  Has anyone experienced
similiar occurances?

Appreciate any useful replys

Brian Curtis       1980 Vanagon with 140K (2nd waterpump)
Trier

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