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Mon Nov 09, 2009 11:14 pm

I cant get my headlights to work properly. The guy before me wired the light switch to the ignition incorrectly, changed out the ignition, and installed a straight wire from a start button on the dashboard to the starter.

I am trying to re-wire it correctly so I can start the van the way it is supposed to be started, with the key.

The problem I have, is that when I look at the wiring guide for a 1971 Van, it shows 5 wires coming from the ignition. I only have 4. Big problem (I think), since one is supposed to be going to the light switch (thus, I believe, allowing the lights to go on (when turned on), only once the ignition is started????)

Anyway, this is my dillema: 4 wires coming from the ignition, nothing for wire (X) from light switch to connect to (and is now not connected to anything, thus lights dont work).

Currently, my parking lights work properly when turned on by the light switch. My headlights work only when I plug the wire 56 from the relay into the clock connection (wire 30). Headlights do not work when wire 56 is properly plugged into place 56 on the light switch.

if you have any suggestion, please help!

Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:18 am

Simple, if you know which pole on the light switch the missing wire would hook to. Assuming you do, make a jumper wire from that pole to any fuse that gets power when the key is on. That way the headlights will only come on when the headlight switch is fully on and the key is in the on position. Peace!

Tue Nov 10, 2009 8:06 am

Welcome, it's a little odd that the switch doesn't have an X terminal, oh well.. As P27 says you'll have to move wire X to the fuse box, the same terminal #30 to the ignition switch is on is a good place or one of the terminals right beside it (connected by the solid link), as long as it's fed by the big fat red/white wire. Connect it to the unfused side though, there's already fuses for the headlights downstream from the switch and that'll be alot of load for a single fuse.
Don't expect the headlights to turn off with the ignition switch when it's connected in this configuration though.

Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:25 am

My '71 panel also had a 4 wire ignition switch rather than the expected 5 wire switch. Also didn't have the diagnostic wiring or connector. It's definitely a '71 - has dual-port engine, disc brakes, and rear wheel flairs characteristic of that year. Must be something about early '71 production.

In any event, back when I replaced the stock ignition switch, the new one had the fifth wire, which remained unconnected until I recently replaced the headlight switch with one which had the 'X' terminal. Now all headlight wiring is '71.

If you look at the Bentley schematic, you'll see that what they did in '71 was to source lighting power from 2 sources instead of 1. Headlight power comes via the 'X' terminal from the ignition switch; taillight, dash, and parking lights come via the '30' terminal direct from the fuse block. Both are unfused power!

To make a late headlight switch work without the 5 wire ignition, you add an appropriately sized wire from the 'X' headlight switch terminal to the fuse block in parallel with the existing red '30' wire (as previously stated.) Use one of those 1/4" blade terminals that has the expansion blade ear on it. Plug it where the existing red wire goes; plug the red wire onto the expansion blade.

Note: you definitely want to add the wire rather than just jumpering 'X' to '30' at the switch, as the '30' wire is too small for the full headlight load.