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Sat Oct 06, 2012 4:25 pm

Folks the headlight switch in my 1991 vanagon overheated and melted. :shock: The part number on the switch is 251-941-531Q. I understand that number has been superseded by 251-941-531T but VW no longer supplies that switch. Does anyone have a swith that I can buy or does anyone know if I can use a swith from an earlier model and make it work?

Sat Oct 06, 2012 5:26 pm

If you use a "headlight relay kit" then any switch will be sufficient. You might check your headlight bulbs, maybe the reason the switch melted is because your van has (some or all 4) higher wattage headlight bulbs.

To run higher wattage bulbs, the "relay kit" is absolutely required. And if you add the relay kit, your next switch can be old, used and will still last forever because all the real power goes thru the relay.

Sat Oct 06, 2012 5:32 pm

Both GW and VC carry the headlight switch. Yours melted because you are drawing too much current through the switch. Check either of the aforementioned vendors for a high power headlight relay kit.

Sat Oct 06, 2012 5:33 pm

http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/smartlist_585/headlight_switch.html

Sat Oct 06, 2012 8:45 pm

The dash wiring harness is different to support the new type switch. If you substitute the older type switch into the newer dash harness you will be bypassing the protection fuse for the dash lighting. That is not a good idea.

You could splice a fuse inline with the gray/blue wire leaving the switch to restore fuse protection.

Mark

jforero wrote: Folks the headlight switch in my 1991 vanagon overheated and melted. :shock: The part number on the switch is 251-941-531Q. I understand that number has been superseded by 251-941-531T but VW no longer supplies that switch. Does anyone have a swith that I can buy or does anyone know if I can use a swith from an earlier model and make it work?

Sun Oct 07, 2012 11:54 am

Frank Condelli sp? fuse relay kit is only $37 from his site, was checking it out last night.

Thu May 22, 2025 11:15 am

Hi, does anyone know where to get a 1991 headlight switch? It was working but then the tail lights quit. HaVe checked vc and gw both out of stock.
Thank u so much for any clues.

This is for a bus for my grandson.

Susan Dolvin
1966 Dormobile Westy
1988 Riviera weekender
1990 Westy

Thu May 22, 2025 2:44 pm

This one is thru 1988, maybe it will work? I dont know...

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2133914

Or this on Amazon, thru 1989

https://www.amazon.com/Volkswagen-Vanagon-Headligh...&psc=1

no year listed, Cheap!!!

https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/251941531M

You may wish to call Buslab in California and inquire if they have any. They seem to have a lot of stuff not listed on their website.
https://www.buslab.com/

There is some good info here too, read the notes regarding 8 or 10 pin switches...
https://www.busdepot.com/251941531m

Good luck!!!!!!