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MonkeySee Samba Member
Joined: February 14, 2013 Posts: 209 Location: Big D
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Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 9:20 am Post subject: LED Headlights now no highbeam |
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So I installed some LED headlights in the '70 Bay and now I can't get the highbeams to work. Highbeams worked with the standard headlights, they worked with one LED headlight and one standard headlight. But with both LED headlights the highbeams won't come on. In my unprofessional thinking I'm thinking there's not enough draw to trip the relay over to the highbeams. Similar to how LED turn signals flash fast with a regular flasher relay.
My question is how accurate is this thinking. And does anyone know of an electronic relay for the highbeams if my thinking is correct?
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NASkeet Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2006 Posts: 2958 Location: South Benfleet, Essex, UK
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Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 9:31 am Post subject: Re: LED Headlights now no highbeam |
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So far as I'm aware, the current to activate the headlamp-dimming relay, has nothing to do with the current consumed by the headlamps themselves, but the switch-current passing through the relay's solenoid coil and the steering-column dimmer switch. _________________ Regards.
Nigel A. Skeet
Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.
Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper
Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)
http://www.vwt2oc.net |
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Tcash Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011 Posts: 12844 Location: San Jose, California, USA
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Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 10:42 am Post subject: Re: LED Headlights now no highbeam |
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Which LED headlights? |
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MonkeySee Samba Member
Joined: February 14, 2013 Posts: 209 Location: Big D
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Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 12:20 pm Post subject: Re: LED Headlights now no highbeam |
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Headlights are JW Speaker.
Trucklite has some that were my second choice. Maybe I'll still buy them and put them on my other bus and see which ones I like better. |
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OB Bus Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2003 Posts: 2535 Location: Ocean Beach in Beautiful BLUE California
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SGKent Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007 Posts: 41031 Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 12:49 pm Post subject: Re: LED Headlights now no highbeam |
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spin the fuses and check the grounds for corrosion. There may not be enough current to make a good connection if there is corrosion. A standard bulb pulls a lot of current due to lower resistance during the milli-second it heats up. Sometimes that current is enough to arc thru a little corrosion. Your LED may not have enough current draw to arc thru a bad ground or resistance. There are two headlight fuses. _________________ “Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
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scrivyscriv Samba Electrician
Joined: October 04, 2011 Posts: 2922 Location: Memphis
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Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 1:19 pm Post subject: Re: LED Headlights now no highbeam |
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My Jeep buddy's opinion after doing LED research is those JW headlights are he best LED headlights out right now. But no they don't operate at all like a turn signal, it's totally different tech. The flasher is a bimetallic spring that uses heat from amp draw. The headlight relay uses 12v and ground to pull the solenoid in and contact the internal switch pads.
Building on SGKent'a theory you might have bad contacts in the relay not letting the current through since the draw is so much less. _________________ Robert in Memphis
Dünkelgrügen 1967 Java Green bug thread
Engine rebuild thread
If you're ever in the Memphis area, you are welcome to stop by for advice and help. |
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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 Feb 19, 2016 1:23 pm Post subject: Re: LED Headlights now no highbeam |
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Does the relay click when you pull the lever?, or nothing happens at all? _________________ 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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MonkeySee Samba Member
Joined: February 14, 2013 Posts: 209 Location: Big D
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Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 2:52 pm Post subject: Re: LED Headlights now no highbeam |
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There is clicking. |
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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 Feb 19, 2016 3:54 pm Post subject: Re: LED Headlights now no highbeam |
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Then the relay is working, SGK's theory about resistance in a fuse, relay contact or ground is the most plausible answer. _________________ 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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Tcash Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011 Posts: 12844 Location: San Jose, California, USA
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Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 5:40 pm Post subject: Re: LED Headlights now no highbeam |
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MonkeySee wrote: |
Headlights are JW Speaker.
Trucklite has some that were my second choice. Maybe I'll still buy them and put them on my other bus and see which ones I like better. |
Which Model?
http://www.jwspeaker.com/resources/?s=Instruction+Sheet |
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MonkeySee Samba Member
Joined: February 14, 2013 Posts: 209 Location: Big D
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1967250s Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2007 Posts: 2137
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Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 7:50 pm Post subject: Re: LED Headlights now no highbeam |
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Have you tried a new relay? Bet the old contacts are pretty worn and may not flow enough juice to jump the pitting. _________________ '72 Elm Green Deluxe |
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Tcash Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011 Posts: 12844 Location: San Jose, California, USA
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Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 9:47 pm Post subject: Re: LED Headlights now no highbeam |
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Seems like they are plug and play. As posted time to check grounds and wire connections. Spin the fuses. Test the voltages in and out of the relay as well.
Here is the headlight circuit
Good luck
Tcash |
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mrbell321 Samba Member
Joined: December 15, 2017 Posts: 36 Location: TX
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MonkeySee Samba Member
Joined: February 14, 2013 Posts: 209 Location: Big D
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 8:51 pm Post subject: Re: LED Headlights now no highbeam |
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Have not gotten this resolved. I just drive around on the low beams and actually that's sufficient for now. As far as fitment goes I did have to grind down some of the cooling fins on the back to get it to fit in the headlight bucket but doesn't seem to be an issue. I was careful to only grind the fans where I can see both sides so I didn't actually go into a sealed portion of the light. |
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Danwvw Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2012 Posts: 8892 Location: Oregon Coast
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 9:13 pm Post subject: Re: LED Headlights now no highbeam |
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If that relay is like my 71 it's a bi-stable relay mine gets wet sometimes and rust out the spring and mucks things up. _________________ 1960 Beetle And 1679cc DP W-100 & Dual Zeniths! |
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mrbell321 Samba Member
Joined: December 15, 2017 Posts: 36 Location: TX
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 12:50 pm Post subject: Re: LED Headlights now no highbeam |
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MonkeySee wrote: |
Have not gotten this resolved. I just drive around on the low beams and actually that's sufficient for now. As far as fitment goes I did have to grind down some of the cooling fins on the back to get it to fit in the headlight bucket but doesn't seem to be an issue. I was careful to only grind the fans where I can see both sides so I didn't actually go into a sealed portion of the light. |
Hm... I think you are braver than I. If I spend that much on headlights, I want them to fit w/o grinding! _________________ [url=http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate2-42413.png]Click to view image[/url]
1972 Type 2 (T2) mod. 221(1) |
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vwwestyman Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2004 Posts: 5688 Location: Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 1:49 pm Post subject: Re: LED Headlights now no highbeam |
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Sounds kind of like the LED headlights I put on my Thing.
Due to poor connections somewhere along the way, they don't always flip over to high beam. Sometimes they will actually flicker between high and low, especially when a turn signal is on.
I don't remember the exact explanation from the seller but it was something along the lines of if the connections aren't perfect, the light will default down to low beams.
This whole thing is somewhat annoying, but I guess it isn't annoying enough to inspire me to go through and clean every single ground/connection. I don't drive on the highways in the Thing often, and even more rarely at night, so I don't end up using the high beams all that much anyway. _________________ Dave Cook
President, Wild Westerner Club
1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing |
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BUSBOSS Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2009 Posts: 2161 Location: Northern California
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 10:59 pm Post subject: Re: LED Headlights now no highbeam |
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IMHO, the existing LED "upgrades" aren't worth it on two fronts: functionality and aesthetics. _________________ All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
1976 Westfalia
1970 Karmann Ghia Convertible (sold - but not forgotten) |
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