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elescofilm
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2022
Posts: 7
Location: bradenton, FLA
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 Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2022 8:13 am Post subject: Amber warning light |
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| I have a 1970 VW from Brazil. It looks like a 1967. On the warning lights , left of turn signal indicator on Speedometer there is an amber light which turns on as soon as I turn the key and it stays on as long as the engine is running. What does this amber light indicate? |
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51156
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2022 9:59 am Post subject: Re: Amber warning light |
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Welcome!
Can you see the back of the speedo? (you don't mention what model you have), what color(s) is the wire powering the mystery light?, that might provide clues.
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Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
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Слава Україні! |
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elescofilm
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2022
Posts: 7
Location: bradenton, FLA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2022 11:38 am Post subject: Re: Amber warning light |
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| Sorry I forgot to mention that the car is a beetle 1300. Regarding wires there is a cluster of wires leading into the area of the questionable amber light. There are approximately 3 black wires and three brown wires one of which has ais not connected. I suppose that could be the problem however I don't know where to connect it. The unconnected end has a female fitting.. Looks liker all the wiring is new as the car was completly restored in Brazil. It looks and runs like a new car. |
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elescofilm
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2022
Posts: 7
Location: bradenton, FLA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2022 11:54 am Post subject: Re: Amber warning light |
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| It just occurred to me that the unconnected brown wire might be a negative or ground wire which, unconnected, could keep the amber light on. Would you agree? |
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51156
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2022 12:09 pm Post subject: Re: Amber warning light |
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Solid brown is ground, solid black is ign switched power, figure out where they go before randomly sticking them on things, you risk letting the smoke out.
Do the charge and oil lights come on when you turn on the key and go off when the engine is running?
I'm guessing since it's from Brazil it doesn't have a heated rear window?
_________________
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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mukluk
Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2012
Posts: 7028
Location: Clyde, TX
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| Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2022 12:32 pm Post subject: Re: Amber warning light |
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If I had to hazard a guess from the description, I'd say the light in question is the generator warning, possibly indicating your charging system isn't working, and that the red filter has faded out over the years and now appears amber instead.
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1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga" |
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finster
Samba Member
Joined: May 26, 2012
Posts: 7951
Location: north o' the border
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2022 4:07 am Post subject: Re: Amber warning light |
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I think what we're saying is - a photo or two would help enormously
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"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut
nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect... |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22671
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2022 5:28 am Post subject: Re: Amber warning light |
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| mukluk wrote: |
If I had to hazard a guess from the description, I'd say the light in question is the generator warning, possibly indicating your charging system isn't working, and that the red filter has faded out over
the years and now appears amber instead. |
It’s either this or a child is missing.
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iowegian 
Samba Curmudgeon
Joined: February 16, 2005
Posts: 9829
Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2022 8:18 am Post subject: Re: Amber warning light |
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| Abscate wrote: |
| mukluk wrote: |
If I had to hazard a guess from the description, I'd say the light in question is the generator warning, possibly indicating your charging system isn't working, and that the red filter has faded out over
the years and now appears amber instead. |
It’s either this or a child is missing. |
You are quite alert this morning. |
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elescofilm
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2022
Posts: 7
Location: bradenton, FLA
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2022 1:01 pm Post subject: Re: Amber warning light |
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| I don't think the light has faded from red to yellow as I think everything is new. There is no rear window defroster which is typical of cars made in Brazil. When the engine is on all idiot lights are off except the the amber light to left of turn signal indicator on speedometer gauge. I have driven the car for about 90 miles. Generator appears to work as battery remains strong. Of the 90 miles driven, 70 miles were on one trip. I am still perplexed by brown wire from light area which is unattached. Glad to hear it is probably a ground. I'll check behind dash to see if there is an open male ground circuit . If the brown wire is a ground wire then grounding it should not be a problem./ |
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elescofilm
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2022
Posts: 7
Location: bradenton, FLA
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2022 1:04 pm Post subject: Re: Amber warning light |
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| Charge and oil lights do come on when I turn key. Oil light goes off when engine runs |
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elescofilm
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2022
Posts: 7
Location: bradenton, FLA
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2022 1:59 pm Post subject: Re: Amber warning light |
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I just grounded the brown wire and the horn came on. The engine was off and the horn was continuous. When I started the engine, horn was still continuous but I noticed that the amber light dimmed when I revved the engine. It did not go completely off but it did dim slightly.
At least I have discovered that the unattached brown wire seems to be connected to the horn even though it comes from the speedometer gauge. The horn does not work at all from the horn ring......it was like that when I got the car.
Ive come to the conclusion that the rebuilders of the car messed up the wiring |
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busdaddy
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004
Posts: 51156
Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2022 5:17 pm Post subject: Re: Amber warning light |
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| elescofilm wrote: |
| Ive come to the conclusion that the rebuilders of the car messed up the wiring |
No shit?, I've never heard of that happening before! 
That dimming of the light when revved while the horn was connected says it might just be your charge light, or somehow mixed into the wiring for it, and since your charge light never goes out when running it's more reason to suspect things.
The charge light wire is usually blue, the bulb holder it connects to is not grounded, it gets positive power to the part of the speedo it twists into, just like the oil light. When it's not charging the blue wire is the ground, when the generator starts making power the blue wire gets power and the light goes out. You really need that charge light, not only will it warn of a potential dead battery, it'll alert you that the fan belt has come off, air cooled engines only last a few minutes when the fan stops.
How about some pictures of this mess?, someone may spot something that looks familiar, here's how to post them: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6
_________________
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!
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22671
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2022 6:13 pm Post subject: Re: Amber warning light |
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| iowegian wrote: |
| Abscate wrote: |
| mukluk wrote: |
If I had to hazard a guess from the description, I'd say the light in question is the generator warning, possibly indicating your charging system isn't working, and that the red filter has faded out over
the years and now appears amber instead. |
It’s either this or a child is missing. |
You are quite alert this morning. |
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.ssS! |
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hitest
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2008
Posts: 10296
Location: Prime Meridian, ID
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| Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2022 7:44 pm Post subject: Re: Amber warning light |
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I've been enjoying this. No pictures (still) and now, despite clear advice against it, the OP is randomly attaching loose wires to places they are not supposed to go, thus concluding the speedo must be part of the horn circuit? No manuals, no pictures, no sense. I only hope someone records the fire.
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| EverettB wrote: |
I wonder what the nut looks like.
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'62 L390 151, '62 L469 117, '63 L380 113, '64 L87 311, '65 L512 265, '65 L31 SO-42, '66 L360 251, '68 L30k 141, '71 L12 113, '74 ORG 181
FU#5 |
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elescofilm
Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2022
Posts: 7
Location: bradenton, FLA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 12:25 pm Post subject: Re: Amber warning light |
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Thanks to everyone helping me on the amber light. I have discovered a lot based on your comments however I am afraid to do too much experimenting as everything on my car is new; including the wiring and the generator. . I now plan to take my car to a garage where there is expertise on wiring and have them fix the problem Thanks again to everyone. I will post the results when I get them.
Larry Schwartz |
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