Misc trooper queries.

Hello, just trying out my new (to me) 1999 2.4 vw trooper called Vinnie. All seems well but puzzled by a little on off switch under a hinged flap at the bottom of the food cupboard. Can't work out what it is for. The van had not long had a clutch replacement and I notice a " clutch" type smell from the engine bay but given the clutch seems fine I presumed it may be the remenents of the old clutch dirt dust etc but after a drive of 200 miles today it still smells, so wonder. I lifted the bonnet and applied the old nose and noted the smell seemed to come from over the battery area where the leisure battery has also been fitted and I now wonder if the clutch type smell is an electric burning sort of smell. Neither the batteries nor any of the associated wiring was hot or scorched looking so just do not know but may ask an autoelectrician to look at to be safe. This is the only thing wrong (at the moment) and I am so impressed with quality of the conversion. Can anyone recommend a drive away awning for a t4 trooper?

Hi and welcome to the forum!

The smell of friction material should be distinguishable from the smell of burning of insulation and so I'd stick with your first hunch. So, assuming the clutch isn't slipping, the smell could still be coming from there if, for example, you've just reversed it up onto a sloping driveway. Our vans aren't the lightest of vehicles, even when 'empty', and with the torque available from Diesel engines, it is possible to heat the clutch in a single manoeuvre. I know with my 2.0HDi that if I reverse it up my drive a little too enthusiastically, the clutch does get hot to the point of smelling.

Another possibility is the brakes: either you've used them heavily prior to stopping, or perhaps you have one binding a little, possibly due to a seized calliper or similar. A quick sniff at the hubs and perhaps a feel of the temperatures of things with a wet finger may point you to the source.

If it is an electrical issue then, yes, you need to adopt a forensic approach to what might be drawing excessive current. Modifications or bodges by a previous owner might be a fruitful first line of investigation.

Hope this helps


Bartfarst

Great,thanks. Yes I think you are right, still feel smell is of clutch material,will continue to investigate.

The small flap in the bottom of the cupboard allows access to the heater fan motor rocker switch. My Trident's Carver heater fan also cycles on and off after being switched off. It's always done this but I've never found a solution. Let me know if you find the cause!

Tattybogle wrote:The small flap in the bottom of the cupboard allows access to the heater fan motor rocker switch. My Trident's Carver heater fan also cycles on and off after being switched off. It's always done this but I've never found a solution. Let me know if you find the cause!

Great, that solves that mystery. The heater works which is a positive and will just have to switch off at the master switch as seems to stop it. If I find a cause I will let you know.