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ShaneL1013
Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2016
Posts: 11
Location: Crossville, TN
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 Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 9:15 pm Post subject: tail light went out. Can't get it back on.o |
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| Okay, I left my lights on overnight recently. It was seemingly ok, until a co-worker told me i had a light out. My running light and turn signal on passenger side quit working. I changed bulbs and ALL the fuses, to no avail. What is my next step to troubleshooting this? |
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aeromech
Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006
Posts: 16971
Location: San Diego, California
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| Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2016 9:44 pm Post subject: Re: tail light went out. Can't get it back on.o |
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Look for a bad ground wire on the tail light assmbly
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BayCreamPuff
Samba Member
Joined: August 10, 2015
Posts: 769
Location: Oakland, CA
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 8:06 am Post subject: Re: tail light went out. Can't get it back on.o |
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| ShaneL1013 wrote: |
| My running light and turn signal on passenger side quit working. I changed bulbs and ALL the fuses, to no avail. What is my next step to troubleshooting this? |
Front, rear or both?
Fuse 2 powers your running lights and fuse 12 powers your turn signals, so unless both are blown you're probably getting power to the sockets.
The turn signals and running lights use the same grounds, so if both aren't working I'd look at the grounds.
Got a multimeter? Here's the wiring diagram for your 78:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiring/baybus_77-78.jpg
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiring/baybus_77-78_key.jpg
Rear tail light assembly
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chabanais
Samba Member
Joined: July 27, 2002
Posts: 4866
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 9:04 am Post subject: Re: tail light went out. Can't get it back on.o |
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I bought one of these for $25 it is well worth it:
https://www.radioshack.com/products/radioshack-15-...5717082949
Pretty much all of my tail light issues have come down to four issues:
1. The fuse was blown (sometimes for reasons 3 or 4)
2. The light bulb was dead
3. The tail light contact tabs were touching
4. The tail light wire connectors were loose and/or touching
The multimeter will really help you out with so many things on your Bus it's pretty easy to use and will save you a bunch of time.
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aerosurfer
Samba Member
Joined: March 25, 2012
Posts: 1602
Location: Indianapolis, IN
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2016 4:04 pm Post subject: Re: tail light went out. Can't get it back on.o |
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Wiggle the bulbs. Otherwise it may just be a great excuse to remove the housings and check everything for corrosion and loose fittings. The above drawing is fantastic for late bay owners. While you have them off you can also clean the grounds, check the wiring on the side marker lights, access the fuel vent line on the left side behind the spare tire well, that housing removed makes that one very easy to do.
Also think about lining the insides of the housings with aluminum tape to give more reflectivity within the lenses.
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