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Thu Jun 02, 2011 10:20 am

Hi all

2WD automatic Westy.

After driving thru some rutty wet dirt road over Memorial Day Weekend I return home and notice that the dash lights, including the instrument cluster, climate control, and automatic shifter lights are out. The headlights, radio and glove box lights work fine. I checked the fuse box, I think fuse #3 applies here and it looks OK.

What else could cause this? maybe the headlight switch went bad at the dimmer? ground? where to look for the ground? other ideas?

Thanks in advance

Thu Jun 02, 2011 10:29 am

I have the same issue. The lights are different then the power for the dash. If you figure it out, be sure to let me know!

Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:18 am

try reaching underneath the dash and jiggle the wires going into the plug.

Thu Jun 02, 2011 12:10 pm

Try looking in the tippy top of the fuse box, there is a fuse that is hidden that is for the dash lights.

I think it's the yellow one.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/pix/3452776.jpg

Thu Jun 02, 2011 12:19 pm

went thru this aswell..removed cluster and installed new bulbs and you can reach the heater control lights from there too..
works for me.
Cheers.

Thu Jun 02, 2011 3:02 pm

And check that the dash light dimmer is not all the way off.

This is my usual problem. :oops:

Thu Jun 02, 2011 3:06 pm

gl98115 wrote: And check that the dash light dimmer is not all the way off.

This is my usual problem. :oops:

I knew somebody would say that :lol: yes, that is the first thing I checked, good thinking though.

Thu Jun 02, 2011 3:18 pm

90/91 is different than all other years. Check fuse 20 in the main panel.

Earlier years have a separate fuse not in the panel or no fuse at all.

Mark

madspaniard wrote: gl98115 wrote: And check that the dash light dimmer is not all the way off.

This is my usual problem. :oops:

I knew somebody would say that :lol: yes, that is the first thing I checked, good thinking though.

Thu Jun 02, 2011 3:36 pm

thanks Mark, I think I read something like that in an older post from you. I'll check tonight.

Thu Jun 02, 2011 7:14 pm

fuse #20 was blown. It looks like my 91 Westy has the dash lights and the license plate lights running thru this fuse.

I replaced it with a second fuse and it blew up again. Started the engine and put a third fuse in, went to the back to check the license plate lights, they were on and the fuse didn't blow up when I immediately started smeling like burned plastic, ran up front to see white smoke coming from the dimmer side of the headlight switch. Turned off the engine and the lights. The dimmer is melted but the headlight part of the switch still works. Fuse is fine.

So what happened here? Bad headlight switch or something else?

Thanks

Thu Jun 02, 2011 8:28 pm

My concern would be that some high amp draw is blowing the fuse and cooking the rheostat part of the switch. The switches are not cheap so I would want to determine a cause before putting in a new one.

I would caution you to be certain to use only the 90/91 switch in a dash that has wiring that uses fuse 20 for the dimmer, even though that later switch costs more. Putting the earlier switch in bypasses that fuse and you lose that protection.

Mark

madspaniard wrote: fuse #20 was blown. It looks like my 91 Westy has the dash lights and the license plate lights running thru this fuse.

I replaced it with a second fuse and it blew up again. Started the engine and put a third fuse in, went to the back to check the license plate lights, they were on and the fuse didn't blow up when I immediately started smeling like burned plastic, ran up front to see white smoke coming from the dimmer side of the headlight switch. Turned off the engine and the lights. The dimmer is melted but the headlight part of the switch still works. Fuse is fine.

So what happened here? Bad headlight switch or something else?

Thanks

Fri Jun 03, 2011 9:56 am

Thanks Mark,

It looks like I will have to check every single dash light connection and wires going thru the dimmer rheostat in the headlight switch before I install a new switch. I don't think the license plate light system has anything to do with this. Maybe a good time to go LED on those dash lights.

Does anybody know of a thread here that shows how to access all these dash lights? that will save me some time although looking at the weather forecast for this weekend it looks like I will have plenty of time indoors. Where is our summer?

Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:48 am

OK, I finally figured this out. Some time ago, the previous owner had replaced the stock lighter with a GoWesty illuminated 12v lighter in the dash. Power to the lighter for accessories was coming thru my auxiliary fuse panel (aux battery power kit) but power to the lighter for the small bulb was coming from thru the dimmer in the headlight switch.

A very small plastic piece in the little bulb assembly was broken allowing metal contact with the hot wire. Once I disconnected the lighter from the main wiring, I had dash lights again, no blown fuse and no melted dimmer. An expensive experience, a new headlight switch for a 90-91 van is not cheap.

Tue Aug 16, 2011 9:07 am

I just replaced the dash lights with LEDs. They wont light up. I even rotated them in case they were in the wrong way. I put a stock bulb back in and it wont light up. The clock doesn't even come on. The warning lights come on and the tach still works if that matters.

I did not notice a blown fuse.

87 Westy

Tue Aug 16, 2011 9:18 am

Did you check the dimmer in case you have it at its lowest position?

Tue Aug 16, 2011 9:22 am

madspaniard wrote: Did you check the dimmer in case you have it at its lowest position?

I did.

I rotated the LED for the clock and now the clock works, but the four instrument lights still wont come on.

Tue Aug 16, 2011 10:03 am

I updated to leds in my 90 and the center and left over lights are troublesome--that old tape isnt as durable as we would like. so I can see my tach at night--old equipment

Tue Aug 16, 2011 6:40 pm

Fixed it. That old foil was bent back a bit on that big connector under the tach. I smoothed it out, now I have lights.

Fri Dec 26, 2014 4:37 pm

madspaniard wrote: OK, I finally figured this out. Some time ago, the previous owner had replaced the stock lighter with a GoWesty illuminated 12v lighter in the dash. Power to the lighter for accessories was coming thru my auxiliary fuse panel (aux battery power kit) but power to the lighter for the small bulb was coming from thru the dimmer in the headlight switch.

A very small plastic piece in the little bulb assembly was broken allowing metal contact with the hot wire. Once I disconnected the lighter from the main wiring, I had dash lights again, no blown fuse and no melted dimmer. An expensive experience, a new headlight switch for a 90-91 van is not cheap.

Thanks for your question & answer. This was the exact same problem and cause for me too.

My grey/blue-stripe "dimmer" wire is wired into the illumination bulb on the power/cigarette-lighter socket on the dash.

The same little circular white plastic collar of the +12V contact was snapped (the spring behind it seems to be the cause)

Mon Dec 29, 2014 10:10 pm

madspaniard wrote: OK, I finally figured this out. Some time ago, the previous owner had replaced the stock lighter with a GoWesty illuminated 12v lighter in the dash. Power to the lighter for accessories was coming thru my auxiliary fuse panel (aux battery power kit) but power to the lighter for the small bulb was coming from thru the dimmer in the headlight switch.

A very small plastic piece in the little bulb assembly was broken allowing metal contact with the hot wire. Once I disconnected the lighter from the main wiring, I had dash lights again, no blown fuse and no melted dimmer. An expensive experience, a new headlight switch for a 90-91 van is not cheap.

Hoping to get some help with my dash light issues...I'm having light issues in general, but the dash is bugging me most.

Basically, my dash lights went out, and my left turn signal was acting up. I'd have to hold it down for it to work, and that would be inconsistent. I didn't drive it for a couple weeks and after driving it lately, the turns work just fine, but the dash still doesn't work. All other lights work as well as the instrument panel, and the only thing that doesn't work are the lights.

As far as other lights not working, the brake lights only work when I FULLY press the brake pedal down....not sure if this is related at all....I'm assuming it's just a simple brake light switch replacement.

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks in advance.