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DONKEY2018
Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2006
Posts: 19
Location: HOLLISTER, CA.
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 Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:01 am Post subject: Headlights wont come on! |
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| driving home one fine night in my 66 bug I noticed the smell of something burning then the headlight knob metal shaft got real hot! Then my headlights went out. I still have dash lights, blinkers, etc, just no headlights when I pull the knob all the way out. Looked at the wiring and can see no burned up areas! Any ideas? Thanks in advance for your help. |
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ottvw
Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2006
Posts: 928
Location: Auburn,WA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:49 am Post subject: |
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| A wire may have arched and burned out a fuse or the head light switch. |
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DONKEY2018
Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2006
Posts: 19
Location: HOLLISTER, CA.
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:58 am Post subject: |
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| fuses all look fine. I was thinking maybe the switch went out but thought it wouldnt work at all but I still have dash lights. Maybe just the headlight portion of it went out. |
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KTPhil 
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 36025
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 10:08 am Post subject: |
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First thing is to examine the wiring between the switch and the dimmer relay, and on to the fuse box. Check each wire for shorts. This part of the circuit is NOT protected by a fuse, and your switch in effect becomes the fuse if it shorts here.
A stuck headlight dimmer relay might also cause an overload if it sticks high and low beams on at the same time. Try bypassing the switch with a (12ga or thicker) jumper wire and see if they work. Do it for just a moment, since you may have a short somewhere. |
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DrDarby
Samba Member
Joined: May 12, 2004
Posts: 6543
Location: Northern Illinois
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 10:59 am Post subject: |
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Agreed but suspect the switch. They are notoriously bad to the point of even a voltage loss to the ignition switch.
_________________
Midwest Autosavers, Inc. Crystal Lake, IL |
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andk5591
Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2005
Posts: 16804
Location: State College, PA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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If you have a voltmeter, you can trouble shoot this by just tracing the wires from the fuse box to the swicth etc - where the voltage stops is where your problem is.
_________________
D-Dubya Manx clone 1914. Ex wifes car.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Ex-wifes car.
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them... |
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DONKEY2018
Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2006
Posts: 19
Location: HOLLISTER, CA.
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| Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 10:35 pm Post subject: |
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| It was the switch! replaced it and all is well. Thanks for all our help! |
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