TheSamba.com :: View topic - '66 R front signal not working question 6V

Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:18 pm

Okay, I've got a '66 6 volt with 9 pin relay. Only the right front signal does not work. I've checked the right front signal just by itself with #30 wire on 9 pin and it works. The hazard lights all work both front and rears. I've gone through two 9 pin relays and the front turn signal doesn't work. Any ideas?
Thanks

Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:23 pm

Time for Matt Roberd's excellent 9-pin troubleshooting guide ... step by step.... http://www.type2.com/library/electris/vw-9prong.html

If you determine the lights and wiring are OK, that pretty much leaves the box as the problem.

Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:03 am

ya know I could duplicate that circuit, if I wanted to. I could even make the whole dam 9 pin box from scratch although it wouldnt be as small due to relay size. But wow am I glad I have the european wiring. Separate turn signal bulb in the back. It seems so many people have issues with this "9 pin" box. And I can see why. the thing does a multitude of things. The only thing I did was add the hazard system to my bus. Yes Ive used it on occasion too. So unless a relay coil up and takes a crap, the 9 pin box is serviceable. I would suppose a relay contact could get worn out. If they would have just expanded this 9 pin box more it would have been more servicable. I wonder how much this 9 pin box originally cost from the dealer

Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:57 am

geez ED H. i have 2 1966 9 pin boxes you can have. they worked when pulled off the cars.

Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:58 pm

quartermilecamel wrote: It seems so many people have issues with this "9 pin" box. And I can see why. the thing does a multitude of things. really not so much ...
Turn signal flasher
Hazard lights flasher
Bad bulb sensor

quartermilecamel wrote: If they would have just expanded this 9 pin box more it would have been more servicable.

I agree with that - the Germans were masters of miniturization in the 60's. It's a 42 year old piece of electronics, complete with transistors, capacitors, resistors and relays, and was probably designed for a max 15-20 year life. Leaky capacitors are the usual problem now, although corroded relay contacts are right up there too. It definitely was NOT designed to be repaired, and 3 different manufacturers made the dang thing for VW so parts are not interchangable.

Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:47 pm

Yeah I've allready done Matts troubleshooting allready but still have the same problem.

Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:25 pm

eth727 wrote: Yeah I've allready done Matts troubleshooting allready but still have the same problem.

Then you're down to a bad box and Bill May says he has a couple of 6V ones.

Thu Aug 07, 2008 10:28 am

Okay, I put in a different 9 pin and the front turn signal doesn't come on but the rear does. Any ideas on fixing this?

Thu Aug 07, 2008 11:21 am

Since you've done Matt's troubleshooting and eliminated the right front bulb, wiring, and socket as a problem, then you could have another bad box. I would doublecheck your right front test.

http://www.type2.com/library/electris/vw-9prong.html
Quote: pull the wire off of VR and touch that wire to 30 and the right front light should come on. Put the VR wire back when you're done with it.

Thu Aug 07, 2008 11:51 am

yeah i tested VR and the emegency flashers make the front right work. this is actually my third box. how could all three have the very same problem?

Thu Aug 07, 2008 12:12 pm

Did you do the turn signal switch test too? A bad switch or broken wiring to the switch can certainly affect one light.

Quote: Finally, to finish checking out the turn signal switch, pull off the wire connected to terminal 49a and touch it to terminal 30. Flip the turn signal switch to "left turn" and both the front and rear left turn signal lamps should come on steadily. Flip the switch over to "right turn" and both the front and rear right turn signal lamps should come on steadily. If not, there is a problem in the turn signal switch, wiring, bulbs, or sockets. Put the wire back on 49a when you're done.

Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:58 pm

yeah i flipped the signal switch and the rear side works.

Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:19 pm

Timely thread for me. I installed the WW repro unit a while back and everything works as it should accept for my left turn signal flashes both left and right lights.

Fri Aug 08, 2008 10:38 am

eth727 wrote: yeah i flipped the signal switch and the rear side works.

If the right front light didn't work during this test (49a wire to terminal 30), then you have a bad switch, bad connections to the switch, or a bad wire from the switch. Check the voltage on the black/green wire from the switch to the 9-pin box with a volt meter or test light. That wire from the switch is what feeds your right front light for the turn signal.

P-Dub wrote: Timely thread for me. I installed the WW repro unit a while back and everything works as it should accept for my left turn signal flashes both left and right lights.

WW repro switch, or WW repro 9-pin relay? Sounds like your wiring is shorted together somewhere, possibly internal to the turn signal switch if the right side works OK. Check your black/green and black/white wires from the turn signal switch for shorts.

Sat Aug 09, 2008 4:34 pm

I did the 49a test and it worked.

Sat Aug 09, 2008 8:09 pm

eth727 wrote: I did the 49a test and it worked.

OK, the right front works with full voltage from terminal 30 but not when powered by the flasher. 49a on the box is turn signal output for both left and right so we know 49a is OK since the left side works OK. But something is different between the left and right circuits, either wiring, bulbs, or sockets.

Have you tried a new bulb or cleaning the socket and ground on the right front? Maybe the right front is drawing more or less current than the left side and the flasher in the 9-pin box doesn't like it. Does the right rear turn light flash normally or faster than normal?

If the grounds and sockets are OK, you could try changing both front and rear bulbs on the right side (or all 4 bulbs, both left and right sides, front & rear) to get matching current that the flasher likes.

With the right turn signal selected, have you tried troubleshooting with a test light from 49a on the box to input of turn switch to output of switch to right front wiring to socket? You should be able to just follow the trail until you find where you lose the connection.

The only thing between the 49a output terminal on the box and the right front bulb is the turn signal switch, associated wiring, and socket.

Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:01 pm

Hey thanks for the help. I got it fixed. It was a bad 49a wire inside the turn signal switch. resoldered it and it works great now.