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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50337
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 Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2021 8:36 pm Post subject: Headlight Switch, 2021 |
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| The Bus headlight switch I have been using on my Thing for the last 10+/- years seems like it might be ready to die. Just wondered what the present wisdom is saying to use. |
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Mateo83
Samba Member
Joined: September 14, 2021
Posts: 600
Location: Lodi, CA
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| Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2021 8:51 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight Switch, 2021 |
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| I don’t have any knowledge to add. Just curious how you think it’s going to fail soon? |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50337
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| Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2021 10:05 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight Switch, 2021 |
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| scwright99 wrote: |
| I don’t have any knowledge to add. Just curious how you think it’s going to fail soon? |
It is getting touchy about staying on. The knob doesn't pull out quite all the way unless you give it a little twist or shake, otherwise the headlights may blink off and on from going over bumps and just from road vibrations. It didn't seem to be a very good switch to start with, being pretty stiff to operate from the get go.  |
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DuncanS
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013
Posts: 4583
Location: New Hampshire
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| Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2021 6:22 am Post subject: Re: Headlight Switch, 2021 |
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You are going to have better luck with an answer on a different forum as Vanagons don't use this switch and we don't know much about them.
But why not just buy a new one? https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/311941531A |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50337
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| Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2021 10:07 am Post subject: Re: Headlight Switch, 2021 |
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| DuncanS wrote: |
You are going to have better luck with an answer on a different forum as Vanagons don't use this switch and we don't know much about them.
But why not just buy a new one? https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/311941531A |
Thanks, I had missed that this had ended up on the Vanagon forum, that had not been my intention. See if I can get the moderators to move it. |
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Gnarlodious 
Samba Member
Joined: September 28, 2013
Posts: 2319
Location: Adobe Jungle USA
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| Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2021 10:20 am Post subject: Re: Headlight Switch, 2021 |
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I any case you should consider the headlight relay mod. I had my switch start smoking and it burned up one hot night leaving me without headlights. Then I put the relay in and discovered the headlights are brighter because the relay bypasses the minimally effective switch. Plus your switch will never wear out.
_________________
Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit |
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[email protected]
Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2021
Posts: 10
Location: TX
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| Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2021 10:18 am Post subject: Re: Headlight Switch, 2021 |
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| Gnarlodious wrote: |
| I any case you should consider the headlight relay mod. I had my switch start smoking and it burned up one hot night leaving me without headlights. Then I put the relay in and discovered the headlights are brighter because the relay bypasses the minimally effective switch. Plus your switch will never wear out. |
Favor? Searched for "headlight relay mod" and did not see any results.
Mind posting link to it?
THANKS! |
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DuncanS
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013
Posts: 4583
Location: New Hampshire
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| Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2021 4:36 pm Post subject: Re: Headlight Switch, 2021 |
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| TK, T3 and GoWesty and a dozen others sell them. Tell Mr. Google you are interested in "Headlight relay kit" Any will work. They are not make specific. But you can also just do it yourself with a couple of 40 amp relays. The wiring is really simple. You run a heavier wire to the feed side of the relays and use the headlight wires to trigger them. |
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wbailey2112
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2015
Posts: 483
Location: Grove City, OH
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| Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 4:56 am Post subject: Re: Headlight Switch, 2021 |
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All of the usual suspects that sell Thing parts carry replacements. Why not just buy a new one from TTS or a used one from Thingparts?
_________________
'74 Thing
'83 Westfalia |
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DuncanS
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013
Posts: 4583
Location: New Hampshire
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| Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 7:14 am Post subject: Re: Headlight Switch, 2021 |
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| "Headlight relay kits" |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50337
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| Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 9:22 am Post subject: Re: Headlight Switch, 2021 |
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| wbailey2112 wrote: |
| All of the usual suspects that sell Thing parts carry replacements. Why not just buy a new one from TTS or a used one from Thingparts? |
They sell the same part number "Bus" switch that I have had problems with and it appears that there are actually at least three different versions of the Bus switch being sold by various vendors: 6, 7, & 8 pin ones. Other vendors list for the Thing one of several different version of the Type 1/Type 3 switch, instead of the Bus switch, hence the reason I am asking for others knowledge here. |
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