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68Bay68
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Joined: September 11, 2021
Posts: 2
Location: Atlanta
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 Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 8:50 am Post subject: Turn Signals Wired Backwards |
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Hello! I have recently purchased a 68 Bay and have discovered that my rear turn signals operate backwards. The fronts react properly, but the rears activate on the opposing side.
Does this most likely originate at the switch itself, or could it be as simple as crossed leads on the rears?
Any insight here would be much appreciated.
Thank you!
Todd
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busdaddy
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Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51124
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 8:55 am Post subject: Re: Turn Signals Wired Backwards |
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Welcome!
Since the wires at the rear are different lengths and part of the harness I'm going with swapped at the switch, or relay if it's got a real 68 signal system in it.
Start by finding the HR & HL (black/red and black/yellow) wires and swap them at the connector near the switch to see if it helps.
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TDCTDI
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Joined: August 31, 2013
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Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 9:18 am Post subject: Re: Turn Signals Wired Backwards |
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I’m going with swapped at the relay.
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telford dorr
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Joined: March 11, 2009
Posts: 3551
Location: San Diego (Encinitas)
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 9:34 am Post subject: Re: Turn Signals Wired Backwards |
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The only significant active wire at the relay during turn signal operation is 49a. Got to be swapped at the switch (or a harness "repair" gone wrong....)
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68Bay68
Samba Member
Joined: September 11, 2021
Posts: 2
Location: Atlanta
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 9:36 am Post subject: Re: Turn Signals Wired Backwards |
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Many thanks, everyone. I will begin troubleshooting!
T |
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TDCTDI
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Joined: August 31, 2013
Posts: 12848
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:00 am Post subject: Re: Turn Signals Wired Backwards |
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| telford dorr wrote: |
| The only significant active wire at the relay during turn signal operation is 49a. Got to be swapped at the switch (or a harness "repair" gone wrong....) |
There is only one wire, per side, between the switch & relay (VR & VL). The split between front and rear occurs after the relay, this is also evident in the schematic posted above. There will (or should) be two 3way connector/splitter AFTER the relay that you can swap the rear circuit wires from one side to the other. These will be to the left of the column, just under or behind the fuse panel.
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SGKent 
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Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 41031
Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:25 am Post subject: Re: Turn Signals Wired Backwards |
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The wires at the back are usually different lengths so it is hard to swap them, however if it was rewired someone could have switched them there. Also if the ground is bad at one spot sometimes another bulb can glow, so keep an eye on that too.
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TDCTDI
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Joined: August 31, 2013
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Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:31 am Post subject: Re: Turn Signals Wired Backwards |
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| SGKent wrote: |
| The wires at the back are usually different lengths so it is hard to swap them, however if it was rewired someone could have switched them there. Also if the ground is bad at one spot sometimes another bulb can glow, so keep an eye on that too. |
As you can see in the image that I provided, the two connectors are damn near piggybacked, it would be easy to swap them, if they were as it came from the factory.
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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
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SGKent
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Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 41031
Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:42 am Post subject: Re: Turn Signals Wired Backwards |
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| TDCTDI wrote: |
| SGKent wrote: |
| The wires at the back are usually different lengths so it is hard to swap them, however if it was rewired someone could have switched them there. Also if the ground is bad at one spot sometimes another bulb can glow, so keep an eye on that too. |
As you can see in the image that I provided, the two connectors are damn near piggybacked, it would be easy to swap them, if they were as it came from the factory. |
you are addressing the problem only as if it is up front. It may be there. Or it may be at the back or with a ground too.
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TDCTDI
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Joined: August 31, 2013
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Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:46 am Post subject: Re: Turn Signals Wired Backwards |
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| SGKent wrote: |
| TDCTDI wrote: |
| SGKent wrote: |
| The wires at the back are usually different lengths so it is hard to swap them, however if it was rewired someone could have switched them there. Also if the ground is bad at one spot sometimes another bulb can glow, so keep an eye on that too. |
As you can see in the image that I provided, the two connectors are damn near piggybacked, it would be easy to swap them, if they were as it came from the factory. |
you are addressing the problem only as if it is up front. It may be there. Or it may be at the back or with a ground too. |
Maybe, but as I understood from the OP, the turn signals work fine except for the fact that the rears are functioning opposite from the fronts AND from the intended input from the switch.
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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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airschooled
Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012
Posts: 12721
Location: on a bike ride somewhere
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 10:56 am Post subject: Re: Turn Signals Wired Backwards |
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If fronts are good, Busdaddy nailed it. These wires need swapping.
The connectors are usually under the steering column heading behind the driver side kick panel. I have seen one aftermarket switch reverse these wires, who knows what else went on at the paint shop.
Robbie
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SGKent
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Joined: October 30, 2007
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Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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| Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2021 11:32 am Post subject: Re: Turn Signals Wired Backwards |
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please explain to me what special x-ray vision you have that allows you to see the wires hooked up to the back bulbs from where you are Robbie et al. That reversal can be anywhere from the connector at the dash that you propose all the way back to the bulbs themselves. In addition, I have fixed many a car where a bad ground fed voltage thru the signal housing with the bad ground back to the brake bulb to the other brake bulb that then glowed and made someone think the signal wires were backwards.
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