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Sun Apr 13, 2003 2:30 pm

I have converted my type 3 to 12v. my only problem thus far is the headlight relay. I pulled the stock 6v relay (Part # 311 941 581 a) and replaced it with the common 12v relay (part #311 963 141) The problem is that the 6v has 6 pins total, and the 12v has 4 pins total. I have a single wire coming off the ignition housing that has no place on the flasher to connect. Is there a better relay, or am I missing some valuable information? Anyone ever left the 6v relay in and did it work? Any help is appreciated!!!

Sun Apr 13, 2003 3:22 pm

I left the 6v flasher rlay in because of the same problem with wiring.. The only problem I have had (and Im not sure its related) is that I keep popping headlights. I bought brand new Sylvania sealed beams and the first day the low beam burned out on the passenger side, then the drivers side. I have been driving around with the high beams on and praying that those don't blow too until I can figure out the problem and fix it.

jim in seattle

Tue May 06, 2003 4:48 pm

well i have the problem of not having the original flasher relay so someone with some knowlege needs to reply to this

Wed May 07, 2003 12:58 pm

Bones, what exactly are you asking???

Fri Oct 24, 2003 10:10 am

Keifer will the 6v relay still function when converted to 12v? I don't see any reason it wouldn't other than maybe shortening the life of the relay a bit.

Sat Oct 25, 2003 1:10 pm

I am not for sure how long it would last.

I wonder if you dropped the voltage down to 8V would the lights be dim? or would the flasher just work a bit slower and the lights stay 12v?

Sat Oct 25, 2003 4:22 pm

If I remember right the switch side of the flasher relay or the coil just moves an offset spring loaded lever that changes the contacts from one set to the other and isn't on the rest of the time. The coil would be on for such a short time that I wouldn't think it would burn out in years, and being as the voltage is doubled there is alot fewer amps running through it . The contacts may need attention after a while though . Am I missing something?

Sun Oct 26, 2003 9:10 am

I think you might have the wrong relay in there, but it still might work. The correct relay would be 311 941 583A, this is a 100 amp relay. Anyway, from what I have here (both 6 volt 6 terminal, and 12 volt 4 terminal), and I can see what your problem is. You need to remove the wires from terminal "J"or "I" and #30 and get rid of them.

All you need to use are the yellow wire for the low beams (terminal #56a on the relay to fusebox), the white wire for the high beams (terminal #F on the relay to fuse box), the white wire w/black stripe (terminal #56 from the head light switch to #56 on the relay) and the brown wire w/white stripe (terminal #S) from the turn signal switch dimmer control. Then your 12 volt relay will work.

Terminal #30 is a jumper wire from terminal "J"or "I" that gets power from either the fuse box or the headlight switch. I don't know which, but it has an extra wire on it (black wire w/yellow stripe) that goes somewhere, and I don't have a wiring diagram that can tell me, and this one doesn't show it either http://www.hallvw.clara.co.uk/wire64n.html . The 65 and 66 cars don't use termnial "J" or "I", at all, so they are basically used as 5 terminal relays.

I used a GM tilt column in my Roadster 2 project, and I eliminated the relay altogether, and just used the white wire w/black stripe from the head light switch to feed the dimmer, then the yellow and white wires from the fuse box for the other 2 connections on the dimmer switch. This worked out great, and I just snipped the brown and white striped wire off. I hope this helps. If you are still having trouble, post what it is, and we'll see if we can help.

Sun Oct 26, 2003 9:11 am

I think you might have the wrong relay in there, but it still might work. The correct relay would be 311 941 583A, this is a 100 amp relay. Anyway, from what I have here (both 6 volt 6 terminal, and 12 volt 4 terminal), and I can see what your problem is. You need to remove the wires from terminal "J"or "I" and #30 and get rid of them.

All you need to use are the yellow wire for the low beams (terminal #56a on the relay to fusebox), the white wire for the high beams (terminal #F on the relay to fuse box), the white wire w/black stripe (terminal #56 from the head light switch to #56 on the relay) and the brown wire w/white stripe (terminal #S) from the turn signal switch dimmer control. Then your 12 volt relay will work.

Terminal #30 is a jumper wire from terminal "J"or "I" that gets power from either the fuse box or the headlight switch. I don't know which, but it has an extra wire on it (black wire w/yellow stripe) that goes somewhere, and I don't have a wiring diagram that can tell me, and this one doesn't show it either http://www.hallvw.clara.co.uk/wire64n.html . The 65 and 66 cars don't use termnial "J" or "I", at all, so they are basically used as 5 terminal relays.

I used a GM tilt column in my Roadster 2 project, and I eliminated the relay altogether, and just used the white wire w/black stripe from the head light switch to feed the dimmer, then the yellow and white wires from the fuse box for the other 2 connections on the dimmer switch. This worked out great, and I just snipped the brown and white striped wire off. I hope this helps. If you are still having trouble, post what it is, and we'll see if we can help.