TheSamba.com :: View topic - 73 Sq.Bk: Turn Signal/ Emergencies shorts

Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:19 pm

It's all thats keeping me off the road! Please help.

Left turn signal works.
When I use the emergency flashers, Fuse 8 blows.
When I use the right turn signal, fuse 12 blows.

The wiring harness is original. I bought the car and don't know if it had the problem then because it wasn't running.

The wiring in the engine compartment looks clean and solid. I found the wires that go back to the lights and the case they are in is not crimped anywhere.

I looked in the steering column and everything seemed in good working order.

Help, please. This so car is so close to working. :) But I just can't figure this part out.
Thanks all. I do appreciate your thoughts. :?

Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:21 pm

Best advice anyone could give you is to look on here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiringt2.php

Where in PA are you?

Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:24 pm

RafCarre12 wrote: Best advice anyone could give you is to look on here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiringt2.php

Where in PA are you?

That's a great resource for the wiring diagrams. Thanks.

I'm in Centre county (Central, PA).

Sat Jun 21, 2008 2:35 pm

Okay, I printed up the wiring diagram and looked around.

There are three grounds that the emergency switch and the right turn signal share. One is behind the instrument panel. This collection of grounds looks new and wonderful.

The other two are the speedometer ground and the fuel gauge ground.
Coincidentally, the fuel gauge seems to work intermittently... Ah ha?!>

So where is the ground for the fuel gauge?

and in case that's not it, where is the ground for the speedometer?

Thanks for the help.

Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:19 pm

If the one side works, and the other blows fuses, you have a short in one of your lights. Check for pinched wires, or bulbs installed wrong. The reason 2 different fuses are blowing, is that the system uses one fuse for turn signals, and another for emergency flashers.

Sun Jun 22, 2008 9:57 am

Russ Wolfe wrote: If the one side works, and the other blows fuses, you have a short in one of your lights. Check for pinched wires, or bulbs installed wrong. The reason 2 different fuses are blowing, is that the system uses one fuse for turn signals, and another for emergency flashers.

I took the lights all apart and they all look good.

I did not see any indication of pinched wires.

I found the T connectors under the dash that lead to the right side turn signals, front and rear. I disconnected both of them and the fuse 8 (emergency flasher fuse) blew when I used the flasher. Fuse 12 still blows when the turn signal wires are disconnected and I turn on the right indicator.

Is it possibly the emergency switch that is bad since the turn signals are routed through it?

Thanks for your help.

Sun Jun 29, 2008 1:14 pm

Hi Folks,
The short was between the contacts on the front (front of car) of the turn signal switch component and the back (back of car) of the wiper switch component in the steering column. Once the offending contact was bent back towards the body of the indicator switch, the emergency flashers and the right turn indicator worked perfectly well.

Thanks for your help!
Blake