I love it when I come across stuff I've forgotten I've got. I was pleasantly surprised by the snow chains at the back of the passenger seat hidey last week when running new fridge cabling. I mostly know they're there but it's always nice to be reaquainted with something I've used just once! I even had to unwrap them to check
Found a childs toy rabbits ear down the arm rest by the rear rock and roll bench seat. That was over 25 years ago but we still have it. It remains the van lucky mascot.
Following the low loader return from Tech Enders due to yet another burst brake light switch I ordered some ATE replacements and spares from Autodoc. Here is an example of the offending articles. Available from GSF and most factors, it's unbranded. Even JP etch their logo onto the similar offering they sell through their distributors. Note the high center potted plastic terminal carrier and complete lack of branding. Along with the switches, I stuck in some Reinz type 4 rocker gaskets. It's been topical recently and I've been using these for years. Dry fit and no leaks. Anyway. Back to the switch. ATE branded and the potted terminal centre part sits lower. I have no idea if this is significant (that's where they leak from), but if a company isn't proud enough to sign their product its probably not worth fitting! Made in Croatia. We'll see how these last. Fed up with changing the cheapo ones every 2 or 3 years and whilst these were more expensive hopefully they will take away the fear of loosing the brakes on that next hairpin!
I'm quite surprised you didn't reject those leaky ones before fitting. They look like they've been sealed/crushed/knurled with something rather crude? I know you've commented on my Christmas tree where I'm plugging holes with them but so far no leaks. The shiny ones were ATE but don't look like yours, the other looks pre-loved to me, maybe transferred when I added the servo but could have been new old stock as I did have a big box of stuff like that. Seems like my wiring only caters for one switch.
I didn't take it out of the box to be honest Steve. Well not to closely look at but just to be sure it wasn't an Eccles cake in there! May just have well have been to be honest. The more I look at the generic one on the left, the horribler it gets...
I got some Febi switches after hearing the horror stories about the cheap ones. Available for about £12 each from Opie oils: https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-192389-brake-light-switch-febi-bilstein-46024.aspx Had them on a couple of years and no leaks so far although the plastic part looks like it protrude more than the ATE ones Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk
There's something in your photo now we're all staring hard that's saying the process of making the cheapo ones involves crimping them until they don't leak, whereas the good ones are put together knowing the more exacting manufacture and materials assures that without the desperado crushing? Or someone is getting the failed ones, giving them a good crimping and reselling for peanuts.
Well I decided to go all Gunther von Hagens on the failed one. Quite a complex assembly. There's the shonky body encapsulating from the bottom up.. A rubber membrane, then a shaped metal disc, above that is a non-conductive disc and then the potted terminals. Up through the middle appears to be a tower of metal contacts that must collapse under the fluid pressure and contact? Anyway, the main potted plastic doesn't stand a chance of sealing to the main body in these, there just isn't enough meat to stop fluid escaping. I wonder if the rubber membrane may have been affected by the fluid as well and possibly failed to seal.
Could that be a spring with a plate at the bottom that is "the switch"? Good job cutting it up, I love this kind of thing and I had no idea what was inside.
Well it's an app based selling platform that I think pull stock from all over Europe. It used to be that there was vat and import duty to pay on purchases but they've recently made it a lot easier to purchase from the UK as it all seems included now. In saying that I haven't made any several hundred pound orders since last year as I've been able to get stuff similarly priced. They offer discount days where its really worth buying in bulk. One of the best features is if you search on part number you usually get all the manufacturer variants and can then pick and choose your brand. It's not infallible because occasionally they'll offer a part as a substitute which isn't exactly the OE or an OE copy so you've got to be careful with cross references.
Yet more work arrives via UPS today, but it's work we like. GoWesty acrylic roof canvas. The other one has lasted well since 2008. But it was badly installed from day 1 and has always bugged us as a reminder of the bad attitude to doing things right that San Diego Classic VW had...long gone and rightly so
you’ve had a fair wait for that mate I bet you’re so glad it’s eventually arrived. Will it be fitted before next techenders?
possibly not Para. We've got it now which is the main thing. It may even be a techenders job. Did you still want our old canvas?
I don't suppose this has gone any further yet has it @theBusmonkey ? I'd be up for a decent set of leads
