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Mon Jul 07, 2025 12:18 pm

Hi all - bus has been laid up for a while - I've replaced the emergency flasher relay - when I pull the switch all for turn signals flash as expected. But using the turn signal the right side work but on the left side i have nothing, no lights on the dashboard and no flashing turn signals.

My guess is the issue might be around the 4 point cable connector (T3 on the attached image - J2 is the relay). Can I rule out a bad earth if the flasher works?

My bus follows this diagram:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiring/bus_8_71.jpg

Any ideas or suggestions welcome - thanks!
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Mon Jul 07, 2025 1:07 pm

Dirty/corroded fixtures are usually the cause, the bulb shell has to make clean contact with the socket, if it doesn't it finds a ground path through the parking light circuit, it's enough to work on the 4 ways, but not on a single side.

Mon Jul 07, 2025 1:18 pm

Thanks BusDaddy - so are you suggesting that when the hazard/emergency lights are on it could be picking up the ground from the good side that works independently?

Mon Jul 07, 2025 4:03 pm

The flasher relay is designed to not flash on one bulb, or flash super fast, it's a way to alert you to a burned out bulb, a weak ground acts just like a bad bulb as far as it's concerned.
The hazards use 4 bulbs so even if one is weak the system still flashes. Walk around with them on and look for the slightly dimmer bulb.

Mon Jul 07, 2025 4:52 pm

A similar issue was just explored on the split bus forum; in their case, the turn signal switch had a bad connection between power and a light circuit. Cleaning it out helped. Also check the Y connector under the dash to the switch for a loose/broken wire.

Tue Jul 08, 2025 4:26 am

Because the hazards work, proving the flasher relay, wiring to external lamps and the external lamps are OK, its either the indicator switch or wiring between it and where the hazard switch feeds the right hand indicator wiring. The hazard switch shorts the flasher relay output to both left and right hand indicator wiring.
Could be the connector block for the indicator switch under the dash as you say. Its just a bundle of spade connectors. Quite easy to push wires in and miss the spade going into the female socket, so it falls out later.

Tue Jul 08, 2025 12:01 pm

it was the 4 way connector - T3 in the screenshot. Of the 4 wires that should plug into the block only 3 were connected. I fished around and found the wire that had become disconnected - all turn signal now working nicely.

Now to stop that turn signal from moving around the steering column every time I use it!

Tue Jul 08, 2025 12:36 pm

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=537144&highlight=signal+loose