TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:19 pm

Trying to get my dash lights etc to work. The issue I have now is that with one pull of the light switch I have parking lights on and my dash lights are lit up. When I pull the light switch out to the second stop my headlights come on but my dash lights go out. Any ideas why this is happening? switch is a 211-941-531. #58b terminal on the switch has no voltage, the dash lights are connected to #57

Thanks.

Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:41 pm

The 211 941 531 plain switch is incorrect for the 71 to 79 buses. Wrong switch. You need the correct one, part number 211 941 531 E.

http://www.airheadparts.com/viewDetail.asp?strMasterCat=&idproduct=6552

58 is power to the fuse box for the parking lights.
57 is power to the parking light indicator on the instrument pod.
58b is power for all three dash pods (speedo, clock, gauge cluster).

When you pull the knob out one click all three of the above get juice so you get dash lights, indicator, and outside parking lights. Pull it out again and you get headlights but 57 looses juice. 58b has the rheostat control.

Wrong replacement switches do not have 57 for the indicator lamp. You simply put a Y on spade 58 and the indicator will be on when the headlamps are on but this may not be a bad thing when driving in the rain during the day because you might forget the lights are on when stopping the vehicle.

Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:01 pm

Karl, back in 2005 this was your post. Im confused.

Karl wrote: kubelmann wrote: My headlight switch part number 211 941 531E is now defunct. I need a replacement. The Thing shares the same headlight switch as is used in a Type 2 1967-1970. I have checked out this part at places like CIP1, CB performance and others. There is an aftermarket switch available that I want to avoid. I was wondering if anyone out there knows who sells the German ones? Thanks. More later, K-mann

Not sure where you got the info that 67 buses used the 211E switch. No way no how.

67 and back headlamp switch is part number 211 941 511D
68-70 is 311 941 531A
71 is 211 941 531 plain, no letter!
VW superceded the 211 plain switch with the 211E which is 73 and up and Things, BUT the E switch does NOT have terminal 57 that is required for the indicator light in the cluster on 71/72 buses. BAD BAD sub!!

You did not give the year of your bus?? If it is a 71/72 here is a work-around for the missing 57:

58 is juice to the fuse box for the parking lights.
57 is juice to the parking light indicator on the instrument pod.
58b is juice for all three dash pods (speedo, clock, guage cluster)

When you pull the knob out one click all three of the above get juice so you get dash lights, indicator, and outside parking lights. Pull it out again and you get headlights too but 57 looses juice. 58b has the rheostat control.

Replacement switchs do not have 57 for the indicator lamp. You simply put a Y on spade 58 and the indicator will be on when the headlamps are on too but this may not be a bad thing when driving in the rain during the day because you might not forget the lights are on when stopping the vehicle.

Ventura Warehouse Group in Ventura Calif makes the best replacement 211E switch out there. They are a wholesale only business. Airhead Parts in Ventura is one of the retailers for Ventura bus parts. Here is one of his Samba ads. [look at the part for the -V- with the oval around it trademark....]
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=204457

For the factory switch, if the factory still makes them......., these 2 dealers stock them:

TEAM VOLKSWAGEN OF DALY CITY
DALY CITY,CA 800-541-2626

STERLING VOLKSWAGEN
ABILENE,TX 325-673-1121

Fri Jun 13, 2008 3:20 pm

Hey Dead-

Just got bach in town from a nice long bus trip, show, and vacation. Mine has the same symptom as yours. First pull ok and second pull no dash lights. Havn't had time to switch the wiring around. Evidently wrong wire to the wrong terminal. I'll check it out with a circuit tester to see which terminal is the one that works on first pull and second pull. The double spade might be the solution. As I used the dash light terminal with reostat control to go to my VDO gauges. They need dimming down. Whereas the dash light are so dim they need full power. In the meantime I have a little flashlight plugged into my cigarette lighter to check the fuel gauge if needed. The tach works good enough to not need to watch the speedo.

Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:10 pm

Desertbusman wrote: Hey Dead-

Just got bach in town from a nice long bus trip, show, and vacation. Mine has the same symptom as yours. First pull ok and second pull no dash lights. Havn't had time to switch the wiring around. Evidently wrong wire to the wrong terminal. I'll check it out with a circuit tester to see which terminal is the one that works on first pull and second pull. The double spade might be the solution. As I used the dash light terminal with reostat control to go to my VDO gauges. They need dimming down. Whereas the dash light are so dim they need full power. In the meantime I have a little flashlight plugged into my cigarette lighter to check the fuel gauge if needed. The tach works good enough to not need to watch the speedo. I solved the problem with a double spade connector to #58