Headlights are dead. Possible bad turn signal lever?

knewknew

My high and low beams will not turn on. They worked fine one minute, then poof. Nothing.

I checked the fuses and they are good. Fuse terminals are clean too.

However, now the turn signal lever is acting funny. When using the turn signals, the flash indicators (green arrows) will blink only once. But, the relay is clicking fine, and the signals are blinking as they should.

Also, when pulling on the high/low beam switch, it no longer 'clicks' into place. ....But, I cannot recall for sure if there is supposed to be a mechanical 'click' or not. Is there??

If there is, then I am sure the lever has gone bad. But id like to know if there is anything else I should try before tearing apart my steering column. How bad of surgery is it?
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1970 Squareback

Tram · Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2015 7:24 pm Post subject:

There should be a brown ground wire that pushes onto a tab at the top of the fusebox mounting screw closest to the column. Did that wire come off?
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KTPhil · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 7:04 am Post subject:

There is no click in the high beam switch function on the T/S arm. You are just hearing the relay click. The arm just closes a wire momentarily to trigger the latching headlight relay.

You say the fuses are good but can you tell where you do or don't have power in the circuit? Do your brake lights work? Running lights?

knewknew · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 2:39 pm Post subject:

Hey guys, so this afternoon I cleaned every terminal on the fuse box and checked for loose connections under the dash. Nothing stood out, and the problem still persisted.

I then checked to see if there was 12v being sent to the headlight fuse terminals (3/4/5/6). I was turning the headlight switch on/off and there was no change. However, I then tried the signal lever (high/low) and heard the relay finally 'click'. I tested the fuses again got 12v. The fuses went back in and the headlamps worked!
I am happy to have it working again, but really wish I knew what went wrong in case it acts up while I am on the road.

Another problem not solved is the turn signal light indicators. The signals outside of the car work as before, however, the green arrow lights on the gauge only flash a single time when the switch is first turned on. The relay is clicking, the lights are blinking, but not on the gauge.

Could it be a funny relay? I still think it might be the signal lever. Any other ideas? thanks!
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1970 Squareback

grandpa pete · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 4:50 pm Post subject:

Don't you think it might help if you told us What year/type VW is this ?
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Mike Fisher · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 5:28 pm Post subject:

It says '1970 Squareback' in his signature! Twisted Evil

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knewknew · Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:26 pm Post subject:

grandpa pete · Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 12:21 pm Post subject:

knewknew · Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2015 3:16 pm Post subject:

One theory I am looking into is a bad ground at the gauge housing. But holy crap, it is hard to get to!

I tried to remove the headlight switch to clean the terminals and spray contact cleaner in the unit. One of the wire tabs broke off, so now it looks like I have to get a new switch, doh!
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1970 Squareback

grandpa pete · Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2015 6:37 am Post subject:

vdubin · Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2015 8:25 am Post subject:

a friend of mine had a prob like this on his 67 beetle. we ended up jumping 12v across the headlight relay, from 12v in to the headlight 12v outs, and that reset the relay and it started working. been fine for two years. your mulimeter testing could have done the same thing.
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gnarballs · Samba Member Joined: July 24, 2015 Posts: 10 Location: 541

i drive a 72 regularly. I have had the same problems but i can get them to turn on every time by jiggling one of the wire plugs on the belly of the column. the one just to the left of the ignition one i believe. The plastic cover on the bottom of my column is off allowing access. Works every time for me. Rolling Eyes


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