TheSamba.com :: View topic - myrtle beach bound and my right side head light exploded

Sat May 12, 2012 12:02 pm

We are at the race in darlington right now, can someone help me out and find a 86-91 headlight? We will be on our way to myrtle beach just after the race. thanks

Sat May 12, 2012 3:23 pm

Btw, i will be in mb all week. PM me if you have a headlight.

Sun May 13, 2012 5:44 am

[/headscratch] Are you looking for the lens and reflector assembly or just the bulb? The latter should be easy enough to find at Advance Auto Zone Boys (AKA FLAPS). The former... try Roadhaus

Also look into LKQ (national used part source) as well as FLAPS.

Sun May 13, 2012 7:40 am

Its the outer thick lens on the low beam. the light is still working thankfully.

Sun May 13, 2012 8:16 am

Ouch! You need a large rectangular headlight, right? You did look at the classified ads here, right?

If there's nothing in the classified ads, try the Roadhaus addresses (at least they may know where to find the part) and LKQ (stands for Like Kind & Quality - as in the insurance phrase "replace with..."). LKQ is a national operation that bought up a lot of pick and pull yards. Good news: if a local yard doesn't have it, they have a better chance to find it. Bad news: I'm told they don't have the lowest price you might expect. Still, if it's LKQ or a ticket for a broken headlight...

Another possibility (depending on the options for doing the work) is search here for people who converted to sealed beam lights (I've seen the postings but can't remember much about the work except it's not "falling off a log" easy). That would fix the immediate need and make it easier to find replacements in the future. Maybe. :)

BTW, while you in MB, check out Russell's in Murrells Inlet. They're on the west side of business 17, just north of where it splits off from 17 (Ocean Highway). Most excellent food and most welcoming folks (the owner will probably show up to shake your hand and thank you for coming - honest!). [/two thumbs up]

Sun May 13, 2012 8:26 am

I have a pair I'll sell for $100, if you want me to mail them to you (from Washington State).

Sun May 13, 2012 8:36 am

Hit something - road debris? Shameless plug that I sell 3M light protection film precut for vanagon square headlights with the 3 bumps, or without.

DougM

Sun May 13, 2012 8:37 am

I have one in Arvonia, VA that you can get pretty cheap. If you haven't found one by the time you're heading back this way.
Arvonia is about 60 miles South of Madison on US Rt. 15.
P.M. me if you're interested.

Sam Bateman
Arvonia, VA

Sun May 13, 2012 8:39 am

lol i have 3-4 sets at home in va but all is not lost, my lights work for now. its raining like crazy here :roll:

Sun May 13, 2012 9:03 am

Oh, jeeze... so close but so far! :D Any hope of getting someone to mail you a new light from home? With Priority mail, if it went out tomorrow, it should hit MB by the middle of the week.

BTW, I'd expect the actual bulb to object heavily to getting splashed by rain. Try to seal the light with some Saran wrap or something similar, just to keep the bulb from popping and possibly doing a number on the wiring if the filament shorts out.

Sun May 13, 2012 9:53 am

i'm useing the parking lights for now, and yeah i might get my buddy there in va to send me out one. it was weird at the same time the cap on the resevoir started leaking. boy did my mind take a trip to the crapper with a leak in the rear and broken glass in front.

Sun May 13, 2012 10:15 am

Sounds like a plan!

Thu May 17, 2012 9:10 am

the old plastic adjusting screws are not happy, looks like i need a new set soon. who sell a new set of them at a good cost?

Thu May 17, 2012 9:12 am

I bought a complete set from Bus Depot.

Thu May 17, 2012 9:16 am

Make your own:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=385347

twscott wrote: Last spring I discovered several broken or non-functioning headlight adjusters just prior to leaving on a longer trip. Put in an order with Van Cafe, but knew they wouldn't be here in time and wanted to have something to secure the headlights and adjust them at least a little. Came up with this fix using drywall anchors, washers, and some spare fuel line. Worked well enough that I just got around to changing them out for the real thing, a year and a half later :? .

Thu May 17, 2012 9:20 am

SWEET!!