rrgrr

Changed the my alternator belt after it wrapped itself around the fan, stopped the water pump and caused an overheat. I was just having a nice trip when I looked down and saw all red! Helpful motorist donated several water bottles and I made it ~10 miles with no alternator running no problem.

Well I had the headlight switch apart, couldn't see anything wrong with it. I have a later model dimmer, but I can't seem to decode the switch harness. Tried pinning power and ground on the connections, but did not get the lights to light up. Can't even get a flicker out of the knob like it used to. I am entertaining the thought that some weird surge burnt all the bulbs simultaneously. There's some hacky stuff with the radio wiring I haven't quite figured out, a splice that shouldn't be there -the keyed power/constant power are screwed up and I had the radio out a couple times, trying to sort that -probably coincidental, but... If anyone has any ideas, or an 85 switch, please help me out!

I like that idea, rocker panel stripes Gen 3 style...never seen it done. Please post some pics if you do it!

^Yep, the lights are all good as ever -I've had to play with the dimmer to get it working in the past, so that is my prime suspect. Really hoping some kind person will have one around who would send it to me...

I am hesitant to take the dash apart (as always) without a replacement Headlight switch in hand, so if anyone has one, meet me in "stuff wanted", send me a message. It's pretty specific to the 85 car -don't know when they changed it. I'll be guessing my speed in the night until...

OT: Nice pic

Thanks, wagonist -I suspect the dimmer since it has been weird before. I had the mirror switch apart, but the bulb is much smaller than the one in the wiper switch. The globe was tiny and clear -it came off with its little white base -wires on the board with no solder. I think the color was ambient within the enclosure, but I've never seen it lit. The spare switch I have is the unlighted kind, no bulb to steal. If anyone has sourced this bulb, lmk.

Are you saying the dash lights are on a relay with the headlight? BTW, JesZek- You really outdid yourself on that writeup!! Good Stuff! (Pretty sure "unknown function" relay controls the defroster.)

Thanks, got the wiper switch lit, the mirror bulb seems unfindable, I am still looking for a replacement. Changed the lighter socket bulb, too. All my dash lights went out last night! The fuse is good -I am trying to trace the circuit (?) The only thing lit on my dash now is my ashtray:-)

I want to see that ski wagon/desert fox photo, here, or in the Awesome Photo thread, please!

That's weird, have you got the float adjusted? Sounds like it's getting hung up or is set way too low. There should be plenty of gas in the carb to get you thru any driveable angle -provided your fuel pump is keeping up. Also, I went to the vinyl caps (Thanks, ferox) and they are holding up better. hope this helps

Thanks wagonist, got it open without incident. Still don't know why it stuck.

Been thread searching but not finding this -All of a sudden the hatch won't open on my 85 wagon. The key turns, the handle pulls, but no go. Trying to remove the inside panel (without breaking anything), but it is difficult to get a trim tool in there from inside with it shut. Anyone have tricks or tips to help with this?

What are you up to???

Apparently there was still a chunk of something in my cadillac converter >< -it got stuck and blocked up, so now I have a "custom" y pipe fabbed by the local exhaust artists. It's only a touch louder, we'll see how mileage is affected. Been racking up lots of miles lately.

That -I would like to see! Care to make a video next time you do it?

What do you know about the header in the OP?

You have removed your cruise control, -which is the plastic ball-shaped can and bracket with wiring and vac switch. (in the left corner of your picture) Also, the vacuum accumulator bottle referred to by JesZek in post #4 is the white bottle near your hatch latch, -I think you need it to make your heater vents work. Hope this helps!

This one is probably only for folks with 85 cars- My rear wiper switch, and mirror control look like they should light up but they don't. Anyone know if they are supposed to? Later model mirror switches are just painted with no clear part. I've got both switches from a later car on my bench, but I don't see anything like a bulb to change, does not look like they could receive ambient backlight from other dash lights, either -or is there some dead diode in there?

*Crickets*

I might have made it to that if I knew about it! Let me know when another comes up -who is organizing these?

Went and got a new O ring, and put everything back together, no drips. I did not use any rtv on it, cleaned out as much of the old as possible. Ran it up to temp for awhile w/the throttle zip tied to keep rpms up, filling coolant. Took it for a spin, everything seems ok, it's got a sort of whirr sound it didn't have before, but no ping. I think there is a ding in my confidence about this motor that hopefully will fade in a few thousand miles. I especially like the paper included with my belts: (Second paragraph) Yeah, just trashing new belts whenever they get a drip on them! In case I haven't mentioned it, this is The AOSM motor, star of the swap vid, and it is Good (for an EA82 ) Thanks again, Scott & Miles! Indiana summer is really kicking in today, Hot & Humid, sweat in my eyes... Already missing freezing doing this work. Here is a pic of the belt position with the new tensioner- I went with the one from the old motor. It still doesn't cover the shiny part, but it's all on there.

When I sold the convertible, Scott said He might swap an STI into it. He said I could have dibs on that EA81 motor, which was still under 100K miles! -I should call him!

It's ~2" higher at the rocker panels in the rear. It doesn't look stupidly jacked up, just a bit more room fender to tire in the back.

Well, I went to refill my coolant -the water pump feeder tube started leaking immediately. Pulled a/c & alternator out Again. Guess I need to go find a new O ring for that. Another mess, another day Not driving More wasted coolant. Not falling in love with the EA82. Never had these issues with my EA81'-s. Just saying I still don't think the minimal hp increase (or whatever the logic was)was worth adding a cam, timing belts, etc. IMHO the EA81 was a pretty perfect motor.