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ud40 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2007 Posts: 167 Location: New Mexico
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Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2011 8:20 pm Post subject: Headlights and Flashers |
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| I spent some time in the archives trying to match up this problem. I have had the thing a few months and have been sorting out the problems and getting it road worthy. One of the problems is that the turn signals would not self cancel and the high beams would not come on. I installed a new turn signal switch today and the turn signals now work properly and self cancel. But the high beams will still not come on. I also noticed that the 4 way flashers are not working and I thought they where before but cannot confirm that for sure. All the fuses are good. Should I change out the Headlamp Dimmer Relay, and Emergency Flasher Relay, or is there any other thing I should check first. Any help would be great. |
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Banker Samba Member

Joined: July 31, 2010 Posts: 78 Location: OHio
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Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 6:12 am Post subject: |
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I would first go to the wire diagram and make sure that all of the wires on the head light switch and the flasher switch are on the correct terminals.
When I first got my thing, the po had all of the wires on the wrong terminals. _________________ Brian
07 Charger Sublime
03 Goldwing
74 Thing |
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SilverThing  Samba Member

Joined: July 19, 2004 Posts: 633 Location: Boise/Seattle
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Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 10:14 am Post subject: |
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If your turn signals are working, the problem isn't the emergency flasher relay. Both the turn signals and the emergency flashers use the same relay. Check your wiring before you go replacing a bunch of parts. _________________ "I like how everyone likes talking about Zeke's Thing yet he's the only one that's ever seen it." - Katie
"I've seen pictures..." - Jeremy |
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ud40 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2007 Posts: 167 Location: New Mexico
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Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 10:19 am Post subject: |
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| Ok I am going to do that check all wiring and plugs to see if the PO did some weird stuff. I am finding out he did alot of maybe this will work if I do this type stuff. Thanks and have a good one. |
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Semper_Dad Samba Member

Joined: May 14, 2005 Posts: 2609 Location: HELL Paso, TX
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Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 10:32 am Post subject: |
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Turn signals not self canceling will be mechanical problem and not an electrical one. There's a black plastic ring on the back of the steering wheel that hits a tiny spring loaded lever on the turn signal switch. A lot of times that lever is broken. Below is a pic showing two turn signal switches. The one on the right is missing the squiggly spring beween the self-canceling levers. I replaced the entire turn signal switch with the one on the left. Interestingly enough, the switch in the left has 2 wiper contacts instead of 1 like the OEM switch had.
 _________________ 74 VW Thing - Walküre
78 GMC Motorhome - Valhalla
"Patina" my ass, that's rust
Recovering Split Bus Addict
Washington State 181 (Thing) Registry - current tally: 58
World 181 Registry Map: http://www.zeemaps.com/394427 Gitm registared boys!
Officially, there are only 98 181s in the world |
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ud40 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2007 Posts: 167 Location: New Mexico
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Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Well I thought the high beams not working had to do with the switch and since the turn signals would not cancel I figured replace the switch. But still no high beams or flashers. Waiting for temp outside to go above 32. |
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ud40 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2007 Posts: 167 Location: New Mexico
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Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Well so far so good. Replaced the headlight low beam high beam relay and now the lights are working as they should. Turn signals work great. The flasher relay is quite large and screwed to the forward wall must be the original. The one on line is part number 211953215C dosent look like the one in the car. Must be an updated relay. Does anyone know if that relay is a good one to replace the old one with. I thank you for all your help. |
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Semper_Dad Samba Member

Joined: May 14, 2005 Posts: 2609 Location: HELL Paso, TX
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Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 3:44 pm Post subject: |
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Original looks like lie below correct? (borrow from classifieds gallery)
Don't think this version is being produced anymore so what you may be seeing is a replacement. I've found an article on replacing this relay on a bus site here:
http://www.airheadparts.com//flasher-info-(68-1-2-70)
| Airhead wrote: | Current replacement for the two flashers above, part #211-953-215 C This is a small box type flasher normally used on the 71-later VWs, both air and water cooled. Terminals have similar numbers, but is wired as follows: There is no KBL terminal, there is only +49, 49a and 31. They are wired the same way as above for the 4 terminal model. The Blue/Green Wire that would normally be for your dash light (KBL) is "piggybacked" with the Black/Green/White Wire to terminal 49a. We supply the "piggyback" terminal when we sell this flasher. Works great, in fact a bit better than the original. Just get a "tie-wrap" and attach the flasher to the support bracket with it with the terminals facing down (flasher relays work better when terminals are facing down, dunno why, they just do).
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_________________ 74 VW Thing - Walküre
78 GMC Motorhome - Valhalla
"Patina" my ass, that's rust
Recovering Split Bus Addict
Washington State 181 (Thing) Registry - current tally: 58
World 181 Registry Map: http://www.zeemaps.com/394427 Gitm registared boys!
Officially, there are only 98 181s in the world |
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ud40 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2007 Posts: 167 Location: New Mexico
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Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes Semper Dad the one in your picture does look like the one in the car thanks. |
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BKellogg Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2011 Posts: 5 Location: Tacoma WA
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Banker wrote: | I would first go to the wire diagram and make sure that all of the wires on the head light switch and the flasher switch are on the correct terminals.
When I first got my thing, the po had all of the wires on the wrong terminals. |
I'm having similar issues... This Thing seems to have a bit of "Creative wiring" from the PO... I just received the proper flasher (bought on here) and it came attached to a bracket that I don't recognize...... (just another Thing issue...)
Brian |
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ud40 Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2007 Posts: 167 Location: New Mexico
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 6:49 pm Post subject: |
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| The headlight dimmer relay had a clip the replacement one did not. |
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