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Sun Mar 14, 2010 3:31 pm

Heya guys. Above is my new T3 that I picked up yesterday. It's my first squareback and I'm in love!

I have a few things that I'm working on right away and wanted some help.

1. Turn Signals. The right turn signal and hazard lights work just fine, but the left turn signal isn't working at all, not even the dash indicators. Knowing that it works when I use the hazard lights, it makes me think that the wiring is fine. In my mind it could be one of two things, the actual turn signal mechanism in the column or the relay itself (i've heard of one side going out only). Am I on the right track?

2. Doors. The doors are missing the part that keeps the door from opening to the max and causing door damage, the door stop maybe? Anyone know what this piece is called and where I could get one?

3. Window Seals. The seals on the windows on the doors are in bad shape. I have the original 2 piece glass for these doors and only need the seals on the roll-down window portion. Anyone know where I can get these or is this one of those parts that is only found on other parts cars? I can't seem to find them anywhere. The guys I bought them from is going to give me the 1 piece glass setup he purchased for the car before selling it, could I just modify the seals that come with it to fit? I'd like to keep the 2-piece glass setup.

4. Seats. The seats are in pretty bad shape. The passenger side just need the upholstery redone, but the driver side has broken springs and such. Is there a place that I can get replacements or is it better to look into repair / restoration of the old seats? Luckily the back bench seat is in excellent shape.

5. Windshield wipers. The wipers work but run really slow. I assume that I need a new wiper motor installed to get the normal increased speed?

6. Speedometer. The speed on the speedometer runs around 8 miles faster that I'm actually driving. Do I need to replace the speedometer cable or is it something I'm not even thinking about?

Thanks for your help on these items. I did some searching around but wasn't able to find anything. I've owned classic bugs in my past, but am a noob when it comes to T3's.

I can't wait to get this thing fully restored in coming years.

~~ Tim

Sun Mar 14, 2010 4:11 pm

for your turn signals, check all your fuses, make sure none are blown. they are available at places like autozone, but are a bit more expensive there.

Sun Mar 14, 2010 4:16 pm

Preistt wrote:

Heya guys. Above is my new T3 that I picked up yesterday. It's my first squareback and I'm in love!

I have a few things that I'm working on right away and wanted some help.

1. Turn Signals. The right turn signal and hazard lights work just fine, but the left turn signal isn't working at all, not even the dash indicators. Knowing that it works when I use the hazard lights, it makes me think that the wiring is fine. In my mind it could be one of two things, the actual turn signal mechanism in the column or the relay itself (i've heard of one side going out only). Am I on the right track?

2. Doors. The doors are missing the part that keeps the door from opening to the max and causing door damage, the door stop maybe? Anyone know what this piece is called and where I could get one?

3. Window Seals. The seals on the windows on the doors are in bad shape. I have the original 2 piece glass for these doors and only need the seals on the roll-down window portion. Anyone know where I can get these or is this one of those parts that is only found on other parts cars? I can't seem to find them anywhere. The guys I bought them from is going to give me the 1 piece glass setup he purchased for the car before selling it, could I just modify the seals that come with it to fit? I'd like to keep the 2-piece glass setup.

4. Seats. The seats are in pretty bad shape. The passenger side just need the upholstery redone, but the driver side has broken springs and such. Is there a place that I can get replacements or is it better to look into repair / restoration of the old seats? Luckily the back bench seat is in excellent shape.

5. Windshield wipers. The wipers work but run really slow. I assume that I need a new wiper motor installed to get the normal increased speed?

6. Speedometer. The speed on the speedometer runs around 8 miles faster that I'm actually driving. Do I need to replace the speedometer cable or is it something I'm not even thinking about?

Thanks for your help on these items. I did some searching around but wasn't able to find anything. I've owned classic bugs in my past, but am a noob when it comes to T3's.

I can't wait to get this thing fully restored in coming years.

~~ Tim

1) Turn signal switch, disconnected wires, or burned out bulbs.
2) door limiting strap.
3) Which seals? the channels or the scrapers at the bottom of the roll down windows?
4) Redo the old seats- check with ISP West or Bill and Steve's.
5) Try soaking the pivot shafts (wiper arm shafts that the wiper arms fasten to on the body) with WD40 or PB Blaster. These are notorious for corroding and binding up.
6) If you have smaller tires than 165 SR 15's up front, your speedo will be off.

Sun Mar 14, 2010 4:21 pm

You do not say what year it is.
On the T/S, unscrew the knob from the 4way switch and spray some WD-40 into it. and then operate the switch a few times.
If your car is a 71, that T/S switch is a 1 year only.
72 and up use the same as a bug.
70 and back use the same as a bug.

Sun Mar 14, 2010 4:25 pm

Sorry I forgot the year, it's a 73.

Tram, it's the scrapers at the bottom of the roll-down windows. Sorry I haven't learned the name of all the different parts yet. There's a gap that is allowing water to get into the doors...

Thanks for the quick response guys, gives me a good start!!

~~ Tim

Sun Mar 14, 2010 4:31 pm

Those scrapers will never keep the water out of the door.
Just make sure that the drains are open in the bottom of the door, and that the vapor barrier plastic sheet is in place.

As far as I know, then are not made for T-3. Maybe vwispwest.com has some repop's.
Many have been using bay window bus seals and cutting them down.

Sun Mar 14, 2010 4:42 pm

Coolio, that helps. The previous owner was mid-restoration and stripped everything out of the doors except for the hardware, so i'll need to re-install the plastic and such to help make sure it drains correctly.

Thanks again guys, I don't feel so lost now...

~~ Tim

Sun Mar 14, 2010 5:07 pm

Preistt wrote:

Heya guys. Above is my new T3 that I picked up yesterday. It's my first squareback and I'm in love!

~~ Tim

Tim, congratulations,especially considering you are not going to convert to one piece windows! =D>

ISP West has a door seal kit that does both the doors, with as much German as possible. By going with the kit, you save a bundle. However, if your doors are completely stripped, you will need to ask them for a set of original clips, as what the kit comes with, they say not to use. Best to call them, F.I.Y..

Russ Wolfe wrote: Those scrapers will never keep the water out of the door.
Just make sure that the drains are open in the bottom of the door, and that the vapor barrier plastic sheet is in place.

As far as I know, then are not made for T-3. Maybe vwispwest.com has some repop's.
Many have been using bay window bus seals and cutting them down.

ISP has the scrapers, but the clips they come with are not to be used. They do not have perfect rubber, but better than I could do by making my own. I am thinking if I make it to the Classic, to have them adjust them, and install a new windshield (fogging fast, and do not it want it to spread to driver's side).

Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:56 am

the turn signal indicators do not indicate direction for some reason, im not sure why but i think they were made like that.....dont take my word for it im still a t3 noob but keep that in mind

Mon Mar 15, 2010 8:32 am

richardfry19 wrote: the turn signal indicators do not indicate direction for some reason, im not sure why but i think they were made like that.....dont take my word for it im still a t3 noob but keep that in mind

you mean the indicator in the dash; both flash at the same time... unless you have the Australian gauge set, then they are independent of each other...

Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:03 pm

Yeah, I found that one about the dash lights. Both blink when I hit the right turn signal and all works fine. But when I hit the left, no action at all, not even the dash lights. I can get them to work on the left when using the hazard light, so I don't think it'd wiring or bulbs. Figure at this point its gotta be the fuses, turn signal relay, or the actual turn signal switch in the steering column.

Anyone know where I can get a turn signal relay at? I can't find one at the local parts stores. When checking the one in there now, its a 12 volt like its sujpposed to be, but much larger and round. Everything I've seen shows it smaller and square like the rest of the relays on the back of the fuse box. Has anyone heard of part of the relay failing?

Thanks again guys!

Preistt

Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:05 pm

you can pick up a turn signal relay at just about any swapmeet, as a bug's relay from the same year will interchange...

Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:08 pm

Sucky part is that I live in kansas. Not too many swap-meets out here. Will check online, or if all else fails, pick one up in san francisco when I'm there on vacation.

Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:10 pm

Preistt wrote: Sucky part is that I live in kansas. Not too many swap-meets out here. Will check online, or if all else fails, pick one up in san francisco when I'm there on vacation.

there's a swap in KC in a couple of weeks, plus all the area shows will usually have a swap included...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=346346

Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:11 pm

id be willing to ship you mine if you can hold out a week or two. stock harness is going, and ill be selling most of the related parts under the dash. i have no idea if it works or not.

Mon Mar 15, 2010 2:35 pm

How many relays do you need. 171 953 227A, also 111 953 227A. Same as a Rabbit/Jetta/whatever.
I have about a dozen of them next to me right now. Sorting through a box of relays.
But, you problem is not the relay. The same relay is used for both sides, and if it works on one side it should work on the other.
If the left lights work with the emergency flasher but not the T/S switch, then the problem is in the T/S switch or the wiring, not the relay.

Sun Mar 21, 2010 11:10 pm

I'm having a similar problem, so i'll be interested to see where this goes.

when i use my turn signal, both bulbs come on (L/R exterior as well as dash indicator).

In addition to that, the turn signals don't operate at all when the headlights are on (the bulbs illuminate but do not blink).

This is also the first SB I've owned, so it's hard to know what's normal and what's a glitch. Are the dash TS indicators supposed to light up independently?

And do the gauges illuminate when you turn on your headlights?

I have a 69.

Mon Mar 22, 2010 2:41 am

darkcity wrote: I'm having a similar problem, so i'll be interested to see where this goes.

when i use my turn signal, both bulbs come on (L/R exterior as well as dash indicator).

In addition to that, the turn signals don't operate at all when the headlights are on (the bulbs illuminate but do not blink).

This is also the first SB I've owned, so it's hard to know what's normal and what's a glitch. Are the dash TS indicators supposed to light up independently?

And do the gauges illuminate when you turn on your headlights?

I have a 69.

yes - both indicators on the dash (left and right) flash at the same time; and your gauge lights should come on when you pull the headlight switch to 'On'...

Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:38 am

Heya all,

Thanks again for all of your help, figured id post an update on where I'm at with the square.

I've replaced all fuses with the correct fuses to eliminate any fuse issues, the po had a rainbow of fuses going on in there.

The left turn signal issue appears to be with the trun signal switch. I can get them to work if I pull towrds me with the switch and hold it in the right spot. I have a replacement on its way to me now and will hopefully have it replaced by the weekend.

I dug around in the trunk up front as it was riding a bit low and found the po had put 2 80 pound bags of cement in the spare tire bucket. Hopefully be able to get those pulled out soon to fix the ride/spedo issue.

We had rain a couple days ago and the whipers did fine. I'm beginning to think that they're just pressing too hard on the windsheild, causing them to run slower. Ill probably just replace the arms and all as they're not in great shape.

As for the seats, I've got a temp t-shirt seat cover set up now. Need to get new springs for the driver side then get to a local upholstery shop that knows how to work on vw's.

I ordered and installed door limiting straps from ispwest. Unfortnately they didn't include the rubber stop as needed and ill have to pull it off the old pair. Not too happy with ispwest as the straps I got were broken and welded back together, probably have to order again elsewhere. The also didn't send me the key to my back hatch lock as stated in their description. I've got an e-mail out to hopefully resolve this one soon.

Waiting for my next paycheck to get more parts.

Thanks again guys.

-- Preistt

Mon Mar 22, 2010 12:33 pm

Preistt wrote: I dug around in the trunk up front as it was riding a bit low and found the po had put 2 80 pound bags of cement in the spare tire bucket. Hopefully be able to get those pulled out soon to fix the ride/spedo issue.

Might be tough if that cement got wet when conformed to the spare tire well.

Preistt wrote: We had rain a couple days ago...

Uh-oh...