Headlights out again

[bigbrownvan]

Alright picture this...coming back from a fabulous vacation to Paria Cyn/Vermillion Cliffs. Driving at 9 pm on the 210 in East LA about to turn on to the 605 and some butt head pulls out in front of me. I flashed him twice with my South African lights and blam...lights out!!!! Going 70 mph on an LA freeway!!! Made the turn on the 605 south and went to the first neighborhood to sleep for the night.

The headlights are out when switch is on, when the switch is on the signals and hazards do not work... What is the deal...???

Does anyone know which the fuse for the lights is? All the manuals I have are so vague.

Thanks for any advice.
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Big Brown Van

Current
85 West la
02 Golf TDI

R.I.P.
79 Rabbit
81Rabbit

[Dogpilot]

Look Here for a fuse index:

http://www.vanagonparts.com/fuse_panel_83to85.html
_________________
Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
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1951 O-1G

[bigbrownvan]

Thing is I looked at all those ones and they seem fine....
_________________
Big Brown Van

Current
85 West la
02 Golf TDI

R.I.P.
79 Rabbit
81Rabbit

[RGS Paul]

Do you have relays to the lights or are you still routing through the switch? The switch could be fried or the relays could have gone. Check for voltage coming out of the switch, at the inputs and outputs of the relays, and at the headlights. Where ever you loose voltage there must be a problem between there and the last place you had voltage. The wiring diagram is your friend, do you have one for your setup?

Also try replacing the fuses and making sure the contacts are clean, this is a problem on the older style fuse more then the blade style but it is worth checking.

Good luck,

Paul

[Wildthings]

The wiring diagram in the Bentley and the Haynes are anything but vague. It may take some studying to figure them out, but once you learn how to read them it is very easy to pin point a problem.

[vwmaniaman]

Disconnect the battery and drop the fuse panel and its wiring and look up. You will see two round looking ground posts. I'll bet the screws to them are loose and corroded. Very same thing happened to me. I ended up removing the instrument cluster and cleaning up the corrosion. Then after connection was resolved I sprayed it with some silicon spray. I suspect sweating on that panel caused it to corrode and that is why I put the silicon on it afterwards. You could also have a bad ignition switch. Do you have lights when you pull up on the light switch stalk? If you do, then it is most likely the ignition switch. You also could have a fried load reduction relay which is up behind the fuse panel on my van. Good Luck finding it.

[DWC]

""I flashed him twice with my South African lights and blam...lights out!!!!""

Don't forget to check the high beam / low beam switch & wiring!
I had the same problem - all the fuses were good, lights good etc.
It was the high beam / low beam switch.
Click it a few times and see what happens.
DC
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83.5 Westy Waterboxer
71 Squareback
81 Westy
59 Panel van

[bigbrownvan]

I am electronically challenged...help!!!!

Advice on trouble shooting....please!! I have volt meter but all the manuals say to un hook the battery prior to fuse panel drop. Do I test the volts coming? Any advice I would be greatful!!!

Thanks
_________________
Big Brown Van

Current
85 West la
02 Golf TDI

R.I.P.
79 Rabbit
81Rabbit

[rblake3]

you did not answer the previous posts. Do you have relays installed? THis is important to know. Also need to know if you have a Bentley manual. Then we can help you find the correct ditagram.

The other thing to look at is possibly a dirty high beam switch in the turn stalk. It may be stuck in between hi/low beams. You can clean it out with some Dioxit stuff or similar.

-rb
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90 Vanagon Carat Wander Wagon
88 16v GTi
01 1.8T Beetle
94 Miata
Vanagon H4 E-Code Lighting Upgrade page

[forenglishpressone]

Hey T!
I'm going to be in SB Friday afternoon. Lets kill some beers and get your lights working.
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