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Kuebel-man
Samba Member
Joined: May 13, 2016
Posts: 19
Location: Frankfurt, germany
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 Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2017 4:49 am Post subject: Thing Dashboard wiring |
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Hi guys,
I've been playing around with the wiring of my Thing first of all to understand what the previous owner did and secondly to add a cigarette lighter and an oil thermometer. I also wanted to fix a couple of dashboard lighting issues.
Long story short, i have come across a few issues some of which were there before and which i was hoping to fix by looking behind the dash but to no avail:
1. my turn signal light under the speedometer (2 green flahses) just flashes once when the turn signal is turned on but then doesn't flash anymore. Same when i turn on the emergency lights. The turn signals externally work just fine. Note that the wire that connects to the light bulb behind the dash signal comes from the KBL plug on the signal relay.
2. I somehow don't get of the light bulbs in the speedometer to work anymore. They are connected to the 58A plug of the light switch (one wire feeding both light bulbs in a line, with a ground wire at the end).
3. My light bulb signal in the dashboard for the high beam doesn't work anymore. Not sure if i missed the wiring when i put things back together What color should the wire be here?
4. Last but not least, when i turn the car"s lights, the regular light and the brake light in the back seem to be mixed up on the left side of the car, ie, without braking, i get he strong red light come up. When i brake, the same light stays on on the left side but now the brake lights come up on the right side, as they should.
Can anyone help?
Thanks |
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Kuebel-man
Samba Member
Joined: May 13, 2016
Posts: 19
Location: Frankfurt, germany
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| Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2017 5:05 am Post subject: Re: Thing Dashboard wiring |
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| by the way, regarding second topic/question below, i've tested the light bulbs and they're all working. However, when i put the tester lighter on the 58A on my light switch, i get no power (when i turn lights on of course). |
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mondshine
Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2006
Posts: 2819
Location: The World's Motor Capital
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Kuebel-man
Samba Member
Joined: May 13, 2016
Posts: 19
Location: Frankfurt, germany
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| Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2017 8:26 am Post subject: Re: Thing Dashboard wiring |
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Thanks Mondshine. Much appreciated.
I've looked at the diagrams and have managed to fix the dashboard lights to work in the speedometer.
On the high beam indicator in the speedometer, i got everything write but still doesn't work. I'll just replace the wire with a new one from the fuse box.
However, i still don't know how to address the 2 other issues:
- the turn signal indicator under the speedometer flashing only once when i turn the signal on
- the mixing up of the tail lights and the brake lights on the left rear side, with the brake light being the one that is always on.
Any advice on these 2? |
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mondshine
Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2006
Posts: 2819
Location: The World's Motor Capital
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| Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2017 8:55 am Post subject: Re: Thing Dashboard wiring |
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Re: the tail lights, here's another diagram to check:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiring/181_Tail_Light_Wiring_Detail.pdf
Confirm that the red brake light wires at Terminal 54 are not mis-connected to the gray wires for the rear running lights at Terminal 58. The connector blocks to check are in the engine compartment adjacent to each light housing.
Re: the turn signals, provided all of your ground connections are intact, check the connections at the flasher relay, or try a different flasher relay.
The stock Thing flasher is slightly unusual (expensive).
On my own Thing, I have substituted a regular 3 prong VW flasher relay, but the red/black "KBL" wire which powers the speedometer indicator lamp is now connected to Terminal 49a (which powers the turn signal bulbs).
I hope that is helpful, Mondshine |
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Kuebel-man
Samba Member
Joined: May 13, 2016
Posts: 19
Location: Frankfurt, germany
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| Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2017 10:20 am Post subject: Re: Thing Dashboard wiring |
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| Thanks Mondshine! Got it. All good. Much appreciated. |
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GI Joe
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2005
Posts: 2013
Location: Athens, TN
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52686
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| Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2017 11:36 am Post subject: Re: Thing Dashboard wiring |
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Your turn signal switch is corroded and the contacts aren't making good connections.
You also have several corroded ground connections in your lighting circuits, among other things you may need to clean the bulb sockets to shiny metal and then smear the base of the bulb lightly with dielectric grease before reinstalling the bulb.
Most or all of the rest of your complaints may be due to corrosion as well. |
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