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allanmcclard Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2021 Posts: 15 Location: Nevada
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Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2023 2:36 pm Post subject: 77 bay, no brake lights |
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Hello everyone please help! I have been battling with my bus, so I have no brake lights when my headlights are on, they work fine when headlights are off. Everything I've read here says its a grounding issue, I've tried to check and recheck the grounds at the tail light housing and even ran new grounds from the housing but still no brake lights, I've checked main grounds to the frame and cleaned everything still nothing. I even went as far as replacing the headlight switch but still nothing. I'm seriously lost on what to do, I've just realized I cant drive my bus at night time. Please help, any advice on what to try now, I just don't get it? |
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busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51121 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2023 3:19 pm Post subject: Re: 77 bay, no brake lights |
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Have you physically removed each bulb and cleaned it's shell and contacts, and thoroughly shined up all of the socket it goes in as well? _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
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Слава Україні! |
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borninabus Samba R&D Dept.
Joined: May 18, 2006 Posts: 4536 Location: Arizona Highways
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Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2023 2:44 pm Post subject: Re: 77 bay, no brake lights |
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busdaddy wrote: |
Have you physically removed each bulb and cleaned it's shell and contacts, and thoroughly shined up all of the socket it goes in as well? |
and if you haven't, get ready for a lesson in how fragile the 40y/o plastic is. make sure you have a dual filament bulb in that spot _________________ 88 Van WBX, A/T - 13 JSW TDI 6M/T - 2012 Touareg TDI Sport |
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75 Westy FI noob Samba Member
Joined: November 04, 2022 Posts: 330 Location: MidWest
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Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2023 2:07 pm Post subject: Re: 77 bay, no brake lights |
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i've got no brake lights at all.
in fact, only one tail light is working on the drivers side.
I'm assuming it's best to remove the lens from the outside.
Hopefully the whole assembly will come out.. and then go at it that way. |
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busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51121 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2023 3:05 pm Post subject: Re: 77 bay, no brake lights |
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Lens comes off to get at the bulbs, but there's 6 nuts on the back/inside if you want to get the unit out to look at the wires, start lubing them up now with PB blaster because they sometimes break off. _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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75 Westy FI noob Samba Member
Joined: November 04, 2022 Posts: 330 Location: MidWest
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Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2023 7:33 am Post subject: Re: 77 bay, no brake lights |
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6 !
ack !! |
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75 Westy FI noob Samba Member
Joined: November 04, 2022 Posts: 330 Location: MidWest
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Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2023 8:05 am Post subject: Re: 77 bay, no brake lights |
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On the brake light switches.. on the MC .. there are 3 prongs.
one of my connectors was bad, so now i have three wires w spade terminals ..
theres Black, Red, Black/Red wires... the good connector is sealed and I cant see which wires go where.
if looking at the 3 tab brake switch as a capital U ... which wires go to each tab? Left, Center, Right .. ? Thanks in advance. |
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kreemoweet Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2008 Posts: 3897 Location: Seattle, WA
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Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2023 8:53 am Post subject: Re: 77 bay, no brake lights |
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75 Westy FI noob wrote: |
if looking at the 3 tab brake switch as a capital U ... which wires go to each tab? |
_________________ '67 bug: seized by the authorities
'68 bug: seized by the authorities
'71 kombi: not yet seized by the authorities
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vwmerckx Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2012 Posts: 195 Location: Phoenix, AZ
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Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2023 9:03 am Post subject: Re: 77 bay, no brake lights |
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81 = Black/Red
81a = Red
82a = Black |
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75 Westy FI noob Samba Member
Joined: November 04, 2022 Posts: 330 Location: MidWest
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Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2023 9:14 am Post subject: Re: 77 bay, no brake lights |
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Thanks gentlemen...
Are those stamped onto the switch itself ? My eyes ain't what they used to be.
I've seen those numbers, but didn't know how to apply the info to the switch. |
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75 Westy FI noob Samba Member
Joined: November 04, 2022 Posts: 330 Location: MidWest
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Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2023 4:35 pm Post subject: Re: 77 bay, no brake lights |
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busdaddy wrote: |
Have you physically removed each bulb and cleaned it's shell and contacts, and thoroughly shined up all of the socket it goes in as well? |
Gonna tale some doing to get them out. Haha
May need to replace the assembly, those look pretty bad.
I hope that dust isn’t radioactive.
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busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51121 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2023 5:18 pm Post subject: Re: 77 bay, no brake lights |
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Don't be shocked if that lamp housing crumbles in the process, looks pretty used up from here. _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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75 Westy FI noob Samba Member
Joined: November 04, 2022 Posts: 330 Location: MidWest
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Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2023 5:55 pm Post subject: Re: 77 bay, no brake lights |
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tried to remove entire housing.. but the bolt is spinning.
discovered / removed the light plate completely by accident. )
One is really bad but might be useable.
Gonna call vw shop before i put much time in these.
Pretty used up indeed.
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75 Westy FI noob Samba Member
Joined: November 04, 2022 Posts: 330 Location: MidWest
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Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2023 8:02 pm Post subject: Re: 77 bay, no brake lights |
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Juuust maybe …
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75 Westy FI noob Samba Member
Joined: November 04, 2022 Posts: 330 Location: MidWest
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2023 12:26 pm Post subject: Re: 77 bay, no brake lights |
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VW shop says he cant get these ...
if anyone has some let me know. (1975 Bus).
I'll try to refurb these meanwhile.
Interesting that there's a ground on these plates. wonder what the strips themselves ground to..? |
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busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51121 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2023 1:29 pm Post subject: Re: 77 bay, no brake lights |
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He's full of it, almost every parts supplier has tail lights, most offer the choice of Chinese for ~$50 or "German quality" for ~$100.
The rusty strip of metal is the bulb holder, the tabs on the plastic things touch the contacts on the ends of the bulbs. You can try soaking it in phosphoric acid, evaporust or even coca cola. If you can get it clean and the plastic doesn't crumble it should work aside from needing to be kept greasy so it doesn't rust again. _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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75 Westy FI noob Samba Member
Joined: November 04, 2022 Posts: 330 Location: MidWest
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Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2023 6:54 am Post subject: Re: 77 bay, no brake lights |
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you're right. i found some on BusDepot and they're on the way.
i'm nearly done with all the mechanicals.
i hope there's a bondo thread on here because body work will be next.
water coming in from corner of the big window. and same w the rear hatch. |
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allanmcclard Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2021 Posts: 15 Location: Nevada
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Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2023 9:03 am Post subject: Re: 77 bay, no brake lights |
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So the brake light housings are brand new on my bus, I have tried different bulbs, pulled them out several times, even pulled the brake light housings out to see if I can see any wiring problems but don't seem to see any problems, I had to walk away from the bus for a little while because its been driving me absolutely crazy trying to figure out his problem. I haven't been driving it mostly because its getting hot here in Vegas but i have to get this issue solved. do you still think I would need to clean the bulb sockets with them being brand new light housings? |
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busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51121 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2023 9:42 am Post subject: Re: 77 bay, no brake lights |
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You never know, stranger things have happened, I'm guessing you've already confirmed the black/red wire makes power when the key is on and the brakes are depressed? _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Слава Україні! |
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Shonandb Samba Member
Joined: January 12, 2019 Posts: 1172 Location: Vancouver, BC
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Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2023 9:46 am Post subject: Re: 77 bay, no brake lights |
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allanmcclard wrote: |
So the brake light housings are brand new on my bus, I have tried different bulbs, pulled them out several times, even pulled the brake light housings out to see if I can see any wiring problems but don't seem to see any problems, I had to walk away from the bus for a little while because its been driving me absolutely crazy trying to figure out his problem. I haven't been driving it mostly because its getting hot here in Vegas but i have to get this issue solved. do you still think I would need to clean the bulb sockets with them being brand new light housings? |
Do your front running lights work? How about your headlights?
I bought new rear housings from CIP1 back in 2017 and installed them but my lights didn't work initially. The housing were low quality and I needed to go through the entire system with a test light and multimeter from the fuse box to headlight switch all the way back to the tail light wiring and found I had power to the tail lights but the light sockets were off 5 degrees and the light bulb contacts weren't touching.
I took apart the old tail light metal ground backing and managed to salvage the light sockets, cleaned them up and installed in the new housing and everything worked.
Have you confirmed where you are getting power to? If you are getting power to the rear then it must be an issue with the sockets not lining up. _________________ *******************************
76 Westy with a 2.5L Subaru SOHC + Vanagon (010) Automatic Transaxle
Build & Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=758760
Previous 1973 Panel Bus:
Click to view image
Last edited by Shonandb on Thu Jun 08, 2023 10:50 am; edited 1 time in total |
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