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Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:28 pm

For starters, my highbeams do not work. Any idea why? The fuses seem good. My head lights and pakring lights go on no prob.

I just put in new housings for the tailghts. I checked the bulbs. They were good. The fuses seem good. But i can't get a reverse lights. And my signals do not work. And the braking lights work only if you push hard on the brakes. Any idea what the heck is going on

Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:33 pm

You have many issues, amongst them searchophobia.

You highbeams don't work because the relay is full of water or the signal switch isn't grounding it.

Your reverse lights don't work because the power wire for them isn't attached to the #15 coil terminal or the wires are off the switch on the transmission.

Your signals don't work because the relay is full of water or the housings aren't grounded.

Your brake lights don't work because the brake light switches on the master cylinder are dying or you have air in the system.

Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:33 pm

Most of your problems sound like grounding issues.

Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:42 pm

For the reverse light thing. Should it be on the positive or negative side of the coil?

busdaddy wrote: You have many issues, amongst them searchophobia.

You highbeams don't work because the relay is full of water or the signal switch isn't grounding it.

Your reverse lights don't work because the power wire for them isn't attached to the #15 coil terminal or the wires are off the switch on the transmission.

Your signals don't work because the relay is full of water or the housings aren't grounded.

Your brake lights don't work because the brake light switches on the master cylinder are dying or you have air in the system.

Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:45 pm

porschpow wrote: For the reverse light thing. Should it be on the positive or negative side of the coil?

busdaddy wrote: You have many issues, amongst them searchophobia.

You highbeams don't work because the relay is full of water or the signal switch isn't grounding it.

Your reverse lights don't work because the power wire for them isn't attached to the #15 coil terminal or the wires are off the switch on the transmission.

Your signals don't work because the relay is full of water or the housings aren't grounded.

Your brake lights don't work because the brake light switches on the master cylinder are dying or you have air in the system.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiringt2.php

that link will help with every problem you are having...good luck

Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:16 pm

Positive side.

Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:16 am

That reverse light works now cause I didnt have that piece that went to the coil. I found one in the parts bin. Dumb luck I guess.

Only thing is that the reverse lights work on the drivers side but the signal light lights up on the passneger side.

The parking lights (driving lights) work on the passenger side but a very dim light lights up where the reverse lights are.

This is really irratating me and I am ready just to take it to the shop again

Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:23 am

it's ground problems, trust me, i've had the same problem, mash the brakes and get a dim right front marker. turn on the left blinker and the tail lights flash back and forth like a cop car. it's all ground problems, clean every ground on that bus and replace your grounding straps. i garuntee you will fix the majority of the problems. also, print out that wiring diagram i posted earlier and trace every wire in the engine compartment and under the dash. it's not near as hard as it sounds, trust me.

i re wired my entire engine compartment after a fire using that wiring diagram and my lights work better than ever. except the fact a bulb burned out in the right rear but that's an easy fix if i'd get off my ass and do it. :D

Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:32 am

Ok, there are to wires that aren't plugged in...have no home. Than there is a white box next to the charcoal canister where it looks like a whole bunch of wires go. Any idea what that is so that I can reference it to the charts? I am going to check my grounds now! Thanks!

Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:37 am

porschpow wrote: Ok, there are to wires that aren't plugged in...have no home. Than there is a white box next to the charcoal canister where it looks like a whole bunch of wires go. Any idea what that is so that I can reference it to the charts? I am going to check my grounds now! Thanks!

white box next to the canister....that sounds like the voltage regulator are there 4 or 5 wires going to it?

should be a red wire, brown wire and two others, can't remember teh colors

edit: i just noticed yours is a 73. that is a whole other monster

lemme do some looking

i think bently has a better wiring diagram...not 100% on that though

that's the only thing i could think is the white box you are referring to is the voltage regulator. some late bay folks need to chime in to this one, i never did get myself familiarized to my 77 like i have my 69

Thu Sep 18, 2008 11:18 am

The white box is the test network connection, leave it alone for now.

Thu Sep 18, 2008 3:10 pm

all right...Thanks guys!