Cali Newbie trying to identify stuff.

[Pat]

Bought a 98 Cali Coach, 2.5TDI in Hamburg in April. Still trying to work out what's what. Downloaded 2 instruction books but still no wiser. Still fixing bits too - dealer kinda forgot to tell me no mattresses, few instrumentation lights, Diesel heater just not there, etc. For all that she had very little rust, and the engine is smooth and mighty.

1/ control panel above rearview: no light, unreadable at night - should there be a light?

2/ On the pillar at the rear of the sliding door there is a small black plastic protuberance between the snap fasteners for the curtains - I have NO idea what it's for.

3/ the storage press across the top rear gets really hot. Is this this normal?

4/ much of the dashboard controls have no illumination. I am guessing a loose wire or poor connection?

5/ the roof is raised by a clunky folding H manual arrangement. I'm not as young as I was and I fear being cut in half by it if it kicks back. Is the gas strut being advertised by VWbusshop worth doing (”warning! 470 Newtons")?

6/ The Transporter and TDI metal, and the Coach and Westfalia lettering are missing. The Westfalia letters I have found online but the rest I'm not sure about. Also am torn between wanting her to look smart, and wanting a "camper in disguise".

7/ I'm probably going to use "mattress toppers" instead of the pricey solutions I see discussed here once I work out what is the minimum height I can get away with.

I'd appreciate your wisdom!
Thanks.

 

[sidepod]

Bought a 98 Cali Coach, 2.5TDI in Hamburg in April. Still trying to work out what's what. Downloaded 2 instruction books but still no wiser. Still fixing bits too - dealer kinda forgot to tell me no mattresses, few instrumentation lights, Diesel heater just not there, etc. For all that she had very little rust, and the engine is smooth and mighty.

1/ control panel above rearview: no light, unreadable at night - should there be a light?

2/ On the pillar at the rear of the sliding door there is a small black plastic protuberance between the snap fasteners for the curtains - I have NO idea what it's for.

3/ the storage press across the top rear gets really hot. Is this this normal?

4/ much of the dashboard controls have no illumination. I am guessing a loose wire or poor connection?

5/ the roof is raised by a clunky folding H manual arrangement. I'm not as young as I was and I fear being cut in half by it if it kicks back. Is the gas strut being advertised by VWbusshop worth doing (”warning! 470 Newtons")?

6/ The Transporter and TDI metal, and the Coach and Westfalia lettering are missing. The Westfalia letters I have found online but the rest I'm not sure about. Also am torn between wanting her to look smart, and wanting a "camper in disguise".

7/ I'm probably going to use "mattress toppers" instead of the pricey solutions I see discussed here once I work out what is the minimum height I can get away with.

I'd appreciate your wisdom!
Thanks.

1. Yes it should be lit.

2. I’ve been scratching my head over this for a while too.

3. What is a storage press? Where is top rear?

4. Prob loose connection. Easily sorted.

5. That H thing is s peach compared to a gas strut. It won’t bite you. Love it.

6. Personal choice.

7. You can easily source the original covers and use memory foam inside.

Good purchase. Welcome. Tons of help/experience/smart arse comments if you need it.

 

[bxl_lad]

Hi, and welcome to the club!
So, quite a list you have there, but being an almost 20year old vehicle you can expect some things to have to sort out...
The missing mattresses is annoying as you'll either have to get some made or track down a write-off to source some - people rarely sell them or have spares otherwise. There are a few breakers across Europe who specialise in Cali's and so might be worth trying those (if you scan some of my posts I reference these frequently) - but be aware they're not running charities and have some interesting prices..! It might be more interesting to find a local upholsterers and have some custom made (i'm sure there will be no issue for one of us to provide you with all the correct dimensions you would need)...

The diesel heater missing could point to a few reasons, either it was never part of the spec, it was faulty and removed or, and this is not the nice one to bring up, your van was not always a Cali... To determine which of these is likely to be answer then the paperwork for the vehicle should give clues...
Firstly, does the original logbook state that the van is indeed a 'California' (see an example below)?
If it was an original option, then there should be a button for it on the control panel (right of the battery button, should be a button with a flat line and wavy vertical lines (see example below). If the button is not there, then likely there was no heater installed... (but I let someone correct me if i'm wrong here).

To your other points:
1 - Whether or not the buttons on the control panel are illuminated or not has been debated here before - the display screen should be backlit, but not sure about the buttons...

2 - pictures?

3 - Can you be more specific? (and pictures of what you're referring to - in general we like pictures on this forum )

4 - could be fuses or worse - an indication that the dash has been pulled at some point or even replaced...

5 - Indeed the pre 99 models had this device for raising the roof. I don't think anyone has been killed by one yet, but there are as you say, kits to replace with gas struts - I'm sure someone on here will have made that conversion and can advise you...

6 - missing decals can be indication of the vans past in a number of ways, either a re-spray, or accident damage repair, or maybe another pointer that the van has not always been what you see today... Can also be that the original buyer requested it without decals...

7 - There has been a lot of discussion of toppers within the forum. A search should find you the info you're looking for...

Regarding the vans past, if indeed its not a genuine Cali, its not the end of the world, just depends on how much you paid and how much you'd be able to re-sell it for later - if the van is in good shape and and does what you want it to do, then who cares. If the conversion is a good one and you're happy with the van as it is then enjoy!

 

[J0Xd4E]

2. If it's the same as on the exclusive it's the temperature sensor for the heater.

 

[J0Xd4E]

Regarding mattresses, if you want some covers made up, these people are ok:

http://www.cbscc.co.uk/caravan_and_boat/caravan_boat_mattress_covers_protectors.html

 

[Pat]

Thank you all for the responses!

Yes it's a real Cali. Documentation (bring German it has everything ever issued, repairs service etc) shows Cali, Westfalia plates attached, was one owner from factory, pharmacist in Bavaria, until the dealer got it in 2016. I think he resprayed some of it, and I suspect it had a trip or two to Afghanistan as he (dealer) is from there and all the clocks were about 6 hours ahead when I got it!

The control panel has the heater controls but I don't think anything happens, and my mechanic says there's hole where the diesel pipe and electric cable just terminate. Maybe I can pick one up from a junked Caravelle - there are lots of these in use as taxis here and they get taken out of the fleets at 10 years.

Black plastic thing is temp sensor? Yes, that makes sense.

I need a dry day and a good poke about underneath and behind the dash to sort out the various niggles like the illumination, the pathetic horn that works now and then, and to inspect and possibly replace many of the rubber and plastic bits that after 20 years are starting to perish.

I used to have a T3 Karmann Gypsy with a shoehorned-in Passat TD engine, then a comfortable but boring Transit based Hehn. It's good to be back with a VW!

 

[mrcheesbrough]

Bought a 98 Cali Coach, 2.5TDI in Hamburg in April. Still trying to work out what's what. Downloaded 2 instruction books but still no wiser. Still fixing bits too - dealer kinda forgot to tell me no mattresses, few instrumentation lights, Diesel heater just not there, etc. For all that she had very little rust, and the engine is smooth and mighty.

1/ control panel above rearview: no light, unreadable at night - should there be a light?

2/ On the pillar at the rear of the sliding door there is a small black plastic protuberance between the snap fasteners for the curtains - I have NO idea what it's for.

3/ the storage press across the top rear gets really hot. Is this this normal?

4/ much of the dashboard controls have no illumination. I am guessing a loose wire or poor connection?

5/ the roof is raised by a clunky folding H manual arrangement. I'm not as young as I was and I fear being cut in half by it if it kicks back. Is the gas strut being advertised by VWbusshop worth doing (”warning! 470 Newtons")?

6/ The Transporter and TDI metal, and the Coach and Westfalia lettering are missing. The Westfalia letters I have found online but the rest I'm not sure about. Also am torn between wanting her to look smart, and wanting a "camper in disguise".

7/ I'm probably going to use "mattress toppers" instead of the pricey solutions I see discussed here once I work out what is the minimum height I can get away with.

I'd appreciate your wisdom!
Thanks.

Wow. Lots of wisdom required. I can answer a few of your questions but some are a matter of personal taste - particularly your badging query. The ‘metal’ badges are probably still available from VW (at a price), the California ones are more and more difficult to find. Depending on your specific model you may be lucky and find some. The European specialist websites are most likely to reward.

So. Your queries:
1) The screen should light up on the control panel when you press a button. I think some later panels had illuminated buttons too.

2) This is the thermostat for the auxiliary air heater.

3) Storage press?

4) Could be a fuse has blown.

5) Some forum members are fans of the earlier H arrangement for the roof support. I’ve only ever known the gas strut version. I like it. It’s worth noting that you should open a window on each side of the camper to make raising (and lowering) the roof easier in the back.

6) mentioned this above. All personal taste.

7) Have you asked the seller if they have the mattresses in storage? Could be worth it. Chances are you would be able to get replacements online - used or otherwise. It’s a two part mattress in the roof bed. At this time of year they can grow mould if they aren’t kept clean and dry. The covers are removable and machine washable though.

Hopefully some of my ramblings are help to you.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Padraic]

Hi Pat welcome to the forum.

1. The control panel lights up with the dash/center console lights, it should also light up and stay lit when the auxiliary heater is switched on. A fix of number 4 might cure this.

2. This is the temp probe for the auxiliary heater.

3. From your description, this sounds like the storage area where the rear speakers are? I don't think it should get hot back there. I would check this out to find the source.

4. Is it just the clocks that are illuminated? Is everything else not light up? If so, it sounds like an issue with the dash lights dimmer control in the main light switch. It has a Mosfet which varies the brightness of the dash LED's by Pulse Width Modulation. It is not very well protected to short circuit so it could be blown.
If you are handy with stuff like this you can take the switch apart and inspect it, if its blown it should be fairly obvious. A new Mosfet can be soldered in.

5 & 6 I don't know much about either.

7. ebay-kleinanzeigen is a good place to look for stuff like the mattress, as its the end of season there seems to be lots of stuff for sale at the moment.
Good to see another fellow country man on the forum.

 

[westfalia]

Re- No 3,
English = Cupboard
Irish = Press

 

[bxl_lad]

Thank you all for the responses!

Yes it's a real Cali.

Glad to hear it

For decals, I recently ordered from Sarah Taylor (Red8 Design & Print) - Red8@gmx.co.uk
She makes up replica decals from any model year combination you want. Drop her a line and explain what you need (if you can send pics of what you're looking for, then all the better), I don't think you'll be disappointed. I got a set for mine as I'm planning on having some bodywork done soon - what she sent looks great - though I've not yet applied them...

You can see some of her stuff here (https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/red8onli...mnkAAOSwiDFYLJhW&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562), though this is not all she does - Best to contact her with your requirements

 

[Pat]

Thanks to everyone who responded. Sorry, I somehow missed noticing the last 3 replies till just now.

I just fixed the lights left on warning buzzer - as people had suggested, it was the double pole switch in the door that was dodgy. Got some contact cleaner into to it and it's fine.