TheSamba.com :: View topic - Help. Front turn signals work but rears don't on 62 beetle.

Sat Sep 13, 2014 8:28 am

Front turn signals work and *so do the brake lights* on Dad's 62 beetle. Anyone have an idea why the rear turn signals don't?

Sat Sep 13, 2014 8:55 am

First question: Does the car still have the stock 62-67 tail light assemblies on it? Those have a separate bulb for the turn signals.

Sat Sep 13, 2014 9:04 am

These only have one bulb.

Sat Sep 13, 2014 9:20 am

That's probably the problem. You need to determine how the car is wired. The 1962-67 tail lights used a much simpler turn signal switch. Before 1962, when they had the "snowflake" tail lights, the cars used a different turn signal switch that routed the brake light wiring as well. When you made a turn, it would simultaneously disconnect the brake light from that side in back, while connecting both that rear light and the front light to the flasher relay.

There are 3 ways to deal with this:

1. Use a 60-61 turn signal switch and wire it the same way as those years. (1960-61 turn switches have 6 wires. 62-65 switches have 3 wires)

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=505524&

2. Wire up a trailer brake/turn light converter box. -

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=391685

3. Use a couple of DPDT relays. After having previously had bad luck with a trailer adapter, I went this route when I fixed up a 61 Bug that had a 62 turn signal switch many years back now.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/641588.jpg

Sat Sep 13, 2014 11:55 am

Much appreciated!