Ground Issue

[phughes]

First, love my Oval (had it about a month) and enjoy the constant search for perfection. We love her, and aptly named her the 'Kuro' Bug (my Dad is responsible - kuro = black in Japanese, and he thinks he's a samuri)...btw, original 6v system, both on the oval and my father.

She's playing electrical games, and I hope to find some clues from the forum:
- cold start issue, headlights only on after using the hi beam switch, and the door open light sporadic.

I put in a new starter, and solved (temporarily) the cold start, by running a second ground from the battery neg to the starter bolt. Helped tremendously. Chased down and cleaned + newly stripped the wires to the hi beam switch, low beams are now cooperating. Somewhere in all that my right rear taillight started working again also. Ha!

GOT MY FIRST CLUE TODAY: while removing the hi beam switch, I am careful, so pulled the neg off the battery. All done with the switch, put everything back, and noted the starter not cooperating as well as the door light switch is kaput. Back to the battery...found I pulled off my new ground wire while tightening the battery cable. Put it back on, great starter action as well as the door light magically appears.

For a beer : I have a ground problem somewhere...any clues where to start???

I have cleaned and religiously the ignition switch, light switch, hi beam switch, and both the 4 & 2 fuse boxes back to shininess.

[Abscate]

Isn't there a ground strap between transmission amd body?
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.ssS!

[TheLadyBug]

[phughes]

I just spent an hour taking the strap off, making all shiny, and ensuring it is tightly back on. Cant say it was loose, or very dirty to start with. But, item is now checked off. Starts well, however the open door light is still not back on, but does work if I turn it to the 'on' position. (which is down).

chasing Gremlins....

[Abscate]

I think you have multiple, unrelated electrical problems. Luckily beetle electrics areas simple as they get.

You have removed and cleaned both the battery and the transmission ground strap, right? If you still need the extra ground strap, get a new negative battery cable and try that. Let's get some pictures up of the cables and bypass too.

The high beams can be tested by looking for voltages down at the dimmer foot button. You need a voltmeter to do this efficiently. It's possible to do these tests with bailing wire and tape if you are an electrician but it's a lot easier to buy the tool vs the craft!

The door lamp gets 6/12V from the fuse box and is turned on by grounding through a switch at the door ( he thinks, if it's like 60s Bugs) it's common for the ground switch to go intermittent. Voltmeter to confirm presence if steady 12 VDC at lamp, ohmmeter to confirm a good ground between other side of bulb and door with door open. When you use a voltmeter in ohmmeter mode, all voltage must be removed....either pull fuse or pull lamp. Test for 6/12 VDC and confirm 0 volts before switching to ohms and resistance.
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.ssS!