LEAKOIL Forum

Runamuck Bus wrote:Also, the brake lights come on, but when the taillights are lit, they are barely noticeable. The brake lights do not seem to burn brighter as I mash the pedal.

Check the grounds on the tail light housings. The brake lights are the second filiment in the bulb that also handles the running lights, check that there is power on the black w/red wire when you apply the brakes. Grey w/red and grey w/black are the running lights. This is all if the bus is a 72.

The Driver side wiper does not swipe. It tries and I can hear the motor turning. I have seen the mounts turn so I suspect that the wiper arm mount or the control arm are stripped. Also, I don't have the serrated washers as pictured in Bentley. I tried to add an additional 'wavy-washer' on the arms to see if I could get the arm to swing - no luck.
I'll check for power on the wires at the brake lights. They did light when pedal is depressed (with no other lights on); just not very bright. Should they increase brightness as I depress the pedal?

Runamuck Bus wrote:Should they increase brightness as I depress the pedal?

No, on or off only. There are 2 filiments in the bulb that handles the brake and running light functions. One is much brighter than the other, that is the brake light. The other is no as bright, this is the running light. If the wires are flipped you will not see the brake lights when the running lights are on. There could also be a bad ground too. Just because a wire goes from one terminal to another does not mean it is passing current. Get some long pieces of #16 wire and some alligator clips and make some test leads that you can run to a known ground and power source, a volt meter or test light will help too.

Toolbox - I just tried the 'simple solution' and I think it worked! I reversed the wires on the tail light/ Brake light lamp and it seems like that might have done the trick. I'm not sure 'cause I don't have a 'helper' with me now to verify the results but my 'dark garage' experiments seemed to produce BRIGHT brake lights and normal tail lights. Now I am triple-ly embarrassed - 1) no light bulbs, 2) disconnected horn, 3) wrong lamp hook-up. My Wipers probably work in spite of myself.

Who cares if ya get embarrased? It's how ya learn stuff. I'm the dumbest VW mofo in this club. (Don't you EVEN comment on that, Bob or Aaron!)

2X to that That's how we all learn.

...

"Experience is the best teacher, she gives you the test first and the lesson last."

Ken wrote:"Experience is the best teacher, she gives you the test first and the lesson last."

Great words, Ken! And ain't it the truth!

But my favorite quote from you was at Basil's the night you told me, "You don't want to go home and tell your wife that an old man kicked your butt, do ya?"

Howie, thanks for the support here - this thing (my bus) kicks my butt at times. I still keep coming back though. I enjoy your posts and recognize the respect and 'appreciation' you get from fellow members. This is all about fun; I look forward to the opportunity to meeting with you some day. Now, to more serious matters..
I have read some ( over on TS (forward to be referred to as 'that site')) that it is possible to rebuild the wiper motor - cleaning and re-lubricating and such, to re-gain the true 'two speed' motor function. I have a parts bus, anxiously waiting, to donate control arms and the like if I determine that this is the real problem. I just gotta know, Is it the serrated washer that bentley references that make the difference, or did I strip the delicate threads on the shaft (where the wiper arm attaches)? I can't see the damage although I haven't examined it under the magnifying glass yet. I'm this close (and still far away) from PA Vehicle Inspection that will determine this car road-worthy. From there, I can start many new 'What the hell is wrong with my bus' threads!