Twist switch on dash?
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- Addicted!
- Location: Thomasville Georgia
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Twist switch on dash?
So, what I thought was an empty hole turns out to be a twist switch in my 1980 Vanagon. It is on the dash, to the left of the heater controls, and behind the steering wheel...it sparks when you stick a knife in it... Any idea what it controls? Does this van have a blower motor? The ones with blowers I have seen have switches integrated into the heater levers...
Thanks!
Thanks!
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- Old School!
- Location: Little Rock, AR
- Status: Offline
Re: Twist switch on dash?
That's a +12v accessory power plug. Good thing you didn't burn your van down. I believe it's powerlet form factor.
Some aircooled vanagons had a rear blower, which drew fresh air from under the bench seat, and pushed it through Eberspacher heater booster located under the van.
Otherwise, squirrel cage off crank would be the only thing pushing the air into the cabin.
Some aircooled vanagons had a rear blower, which drew fresh air from under the bench seat, and pushed it through Eberspacher heater booster located under the van.
Otherwise, squirrel cage off crank would be the only thing pushing the air into the cabin.
1981 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia - air-cooled Type4 1970cc CV (hydraulic lifters, 42x36 valves, stock cam, microSquirt FI with wasted spark ignition)
1993 Ford F-250 XL LWB Extended Cab 7.3L IDI
1993 Ford F-250 XL LWB Extended Cab 7.3L IDI
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- Addicted!
- Location: Thomasville Georgia
- Status: Offline
Re: Twist switch on dash?
What kinds of accessories? It is nothing like the traditional cigarette plug...
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- Old School!
- Location: Little Rock, AR
- Status: Offline
Re: Twist switch on dash?
Anything traditional cigarette adapter would take. Google powerlet adapter.
1981 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia - air-cooled Type4 1970cc CV (hydraulic lifters, 42x36 valves, stock cam, microSquirt FI with wasted spark ignition)
1993 Ford F-250 XL LWB Extended Cab 7.3L IDI
1993 Ford F-250 XL LWB Extended Cab 7.3L IDI
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- Addicted!
- Location: Thomasville Georgia
- Status: Offline
Re: Twist switch on dash?
Ooooo...that's interesting.
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: Twist switch on dash?
A twist-to-turn switch would be a heater blower switch if it was immediately adjacent to the levers. Late water-cooled Vanagons ran the rear seat heater to the left of the controls, defroster blower switch to the right.
If it sparks when you stick a knife in it, don't stick a knife in it.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
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- Addicted!
- Location: Thomasville Georgia
- Status: Offline
Re: Twist switch on dash?
Yeah...the inner post really looked like it had a notch for a switch, and it spins...and then it sparks... I was really hoping for a heater blower, as that van is coooooold. I also need to find a new place to put a radio cut off to save my battery.
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- Old School!
- Location: Little Rock, AR
- Status: Offline
Re: Twist switch on dash?
Take a picture, will ya.
1981 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia - air-cooled Type4 1970cc CV (hydraulic lifters, 42x36 valves, stock cam, microSquirt FI with wasted spark ignition)
1993 Ford F-250 XL LWB Extended Cab 7.3L IDI
1993 Ford F-250 XL LWB Extended Cab 7.3L IDI
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- Addicted!
- Location: Thomasville Georgia
- Status: Offline
Re: Twist switch on dash?
After looking at pictures of powerlets, I'm sure you are correct...I had never heard of such a thing.
- SlowLane
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Livermore, CA
- Status: Offline
Re: Twist switch on dash?
Hmm, I had never heard of "powerlet" before, but ratwell has a page dedicated to what he called the "silver socket", for lack of a better term.
This powerlet thing seems to be fairly recent adoption of the silver socket by the powersport industry. Which is great, 'cause it increases the utility of the socket for us (heated jacket, anyone?)
This powerlet thing seems to be fairly recent adoption of the silver socket by the powersport industry. Which is great, 'cause it increases the utility of the socket for us (heated jacket, anyone?)
'81 Canadian Westfalia (2.0L, manual), now Californiated
"They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance."
- Terry Pratchett
"They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance."
- Terry Pratchett
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- Old School!
- Location: Little Rock, AR
- Status: Offline
Re: Twist switch on dash?
It's very popular on motorcycles. BMW motorcycles come with powerlets.
1981 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia - air-cooled Type4 1970cc CV (hydraulic lifters, 42x36 valves, stock cam, microSquirt FI with wasted spark ignition)
1993 Ford F-250 XL LWB Extended Cab 7.3L IDI
1993 Ford F-250 XL LWB Extended Cab 7.3L IDI