The Curse of the Previous Owner.

Botched Electrics : It all started with missing relays, broken hazard switches and a dodgy headlight switch and fusebox/relay wiring...

Once this was fixed I turned my attention to the wiper motor and the fuse popping shenanigans everytime I engage the stalk.

The po had fitted a connector block with incorrect terminals meaning, off was off, slow was off and fast was shorting out.

This is now resolved although it does mean I have a stripped worm wheel rather than a shagged motor (which is slightly better and less expensive ) )

My instinct with wiring is now, if it seems wrong - it probably is wrong, stick to the manual, pull everything and start again. Darn hippies!

So at the top of the list:

1. Botched Electrics

 

Welcome to my world. I don't know what it is about old volkswagens but the bodges amaze me. You'd never donor with anything else but somehow VW's seem to slip under the radar.

 

I think this post could run, and run...

insufficient welding,
cheap blow over (i haven't found copious filler though!)
The aftermarket washer switch was wired onto the hazard warning light using wire thinner than horse hair
Missing parts.... actually, make that significant quantities of missing, rare parts!

 

I don't understand why there are so many missing things on the van. Why did the previous owner decide to take off breather pipes, small bits of tin wear, various other bits? This is my first van so it takes time to find out what's missing.

 

Cos they are all 30 to 40 years old and have had at least a dozen owners and because a substantial numbert of "professional" mechanics arent (hats off to proper mechanics btw who do things properly).

Had mine back from "VW specialists" with bits missing they went in there with!

 

I do feel a bit sorry for the previous owner though. She had it for over 15 years and she gave me all the invoices and receipts for work. She was completely ripped off by a number of garages as work was listed as being done and it blantently hadn't been done. Scarily this included replacing the fuel hoses and breathers, what they'd done is only replace the ones you could see. when I got the fuel tank out all the breathers were partially perished, the large fuel filler hose was the original hose and really needed changing.

 

A few dodgy electrics, non working wipers, erratic indicators, strange working rear lights most. Best of all was a crushed rear brake pipe.
All this And it came with a fresh mot. Think it was moted by a blind man 30 miles away from the van.

 

as above....why has the american man improved mine by removing all under tin and thermostat plus all heating........ gggrrrrrr!

 

When I bought my van these things were missing but very obviously installed at some point:

Radio
Speakers
Water tank
Fridge
Propex heater
Headrests

It did (and still does) have a switch for manually turning on a fan in the engine though. This unnecessary gizmo is held on with insulation tape, of course.