It's Electric!

[buspeople]

I have a 61 single cab. Today I replaced the tailight lenses, flasher relay and the wiper motor armature. Starting off the day all of my lights worked fine. After doing that work, now I don't have any turn signals or even lights at the turn signals when the headlights are on. I only get one brake light when the headlights are on and I have no low beam on the passenger side. I have turn signals on all corners except the front driver side when the headlights are off and the brake lights work fine as well then. My signals, when working, now also blink twice as fast.

I know it's not the bulb, i swapped those between themselves. I also got a similar dimmer switch from advanced auto to check it out and it didn't seem to make any difference. Any suggestions? All fuses are good too..

[jeremy57ride]

Ground issue, I'd suggest grounding your tail lights with a dedicated ground wire, add star washers to any wires which ground to the body. Switches and gauges do funny things when not properly grounded. Check all other ground wires, adding the star washers...or finding bare metal to properly ground.
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[buspeople]

Do they each get their own ground wire? I've got the driver side grounded to the cooling tin right now. The passenger one is just ran in parallel with it. As far as any and all other grounds, I kinda had a hunch that was the culprit. Any clue as to where to start? Do the tailight housings themselves need to touch the body?

[jeremy57ride]

Short answer- yes. Early wiring systems tend to use contact to the body from the tail lights or headlights to make ground. You will also find this on the dash for gauges and flashers.. which means a good contact on all of these parts produces their ground. Later versions typically have independent grounds and insure better contact, which is how most choose to update. You can run independent ground wires for best results... some argue directly to ground strap (battery)... either way, each component needs a good, solid ground. Here's one thread... there are many more. Go through each component and ensure good ground, tail lights, turn signals, headlights and switches.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=387637&highlight=grounding+tail+lights
_________________
"If you don't do it this year, you'll be one year older when you do." -Warren Miller

[buspeople]

Thanks a bunch! Read through all of that and it gives me some places to start and tricks to use for sure. I'll post some updates later on tonight...

[mykillcykill]

https://www.powerprobe.com/web-store-1/p5fjvq2kzjttivtwpnbtd06fdcokqz

These help a lot! I love mine. Allows you to check for voltage, check for ground or apply voltage or ground. [/url]

[BarryL]

[jeremy57ride]

[buspeople]

So I got through everything and got most everything working again. The turn signals both work when they're supposed to. The driver side one blinks about double the speed of the passenger side though? Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't the blinker lights supposed to be on along with the running lights and headlights? Mine aren't. I have a continuity light and it says there's juice there but they aren't on. They will blink though. As far as my headlight. I can get my passenger low beam to turn on if I jump either the middle dimmer switch wire with the solid white one or both outer ones? When it's off I have juice at all three points on the plug at the bulb. I think I explained that all correctly...

[jeremy57ride]

Still sounds like some grounding issues... without testing current through each switch operation it is hard to trouble shoot. I assume you have accessed the wire diagram? Technical tab above, wiring, select model. I have sent this file to Staples in the past, printed and laminated in color, actual size. Comes in very handy when chasing down wiring issues. Have you upgraded your headlights ground? https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=651090&highlight=grounding+headlights
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"If you don't do it this year, you'll be one year older when you do." -Warren Miller

[buspeople]

Oh yes, I've referenced that tab quite a bit here lately. I have the original workshop manual as well so I do have something in the garage with me. The headlight grounds have been upgraded. Everything seems to match the wire diagram fine. Would something inside the turn signal switch cause the bullet lights to not turn on as running lights?

[jeremy57ride]

[EverettB]

The front turn signals are only turn signals.

The little small bulbs in the headlights are running/parking lights .
They turn on on the first pull of the headlight switch and turn off when the headlights are on.
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[buspeople]

I appreciate that. I've been looking up pictures and some busses all lights are on and some just the headlights were and I couldn't remember for sure. So it seems like I'm just down to my low beam problem which I found if I jump, and it doesn't matter which one, at the dimmer switch 56a to 56 or 56b to 56 my passenger low beam will come on. I've got an NOS dimmer switch coming. Could the problem be in the switch?

[BarryL]

[buspeople]

I'll try that...what do you guys think about the headlight thing? Dimmer switch or other grounding/jumper issues?

[BarryL]

[buspeople]

Seems like it to me?...

[Eric&Barb]

[BarryL]