74 ghia dash lights

AlienJohn · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 7:38 am Post subject: 74 ghia dash lights

Guys,
I have found that the 74 ghia dash lights in the spedo and the clock are tentative at best. Although I have cleaned the contacts carefully and installed the plastic bulb holders properly there seems to constantly be an intermittent issue which I believe to be inherent with this design.

I'm wondering if anyone has changed the bulb and socket style successfully to something more reliable.

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JB in Ohio
_________________
All Hail Snorkelstang !

72 Standard Beetle
74 Karmann Ghia Coupe
76 Fender Telecaster

CiderGuy · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 9:39 am Post subject:

My dash lights were so dim, it was hard to even see if they were really on. I switched to LED dash lights I bought off of ebay. They are bright now.

I have sprayed my connections with that electronic wire dryer spray and have improved some connections that way.

AlienJohn · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 9:41 am Post subject:

CiderGuy · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 9:55 am Post subject:

AlienJohn · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 12:00 pm Post subject:

c21darrel · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 12:03 pm Post subject:

Ive used Superbrightleds.com for several projects including the third brake light on the ghia.
http://www.superbrightleds.com/
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restonubie · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 8:31 pm Post subject:

These people advertise on the Samba :
http://www.auto-hub.com/
They do a LED wedge style for those plastic sockets and they light up the dash a lot better. Like you say the connection of the socket to the instrument body can be hit and miss.

AlienJohn · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 4:26 am Post subject:

AlienJohn · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2014 5:28 am Post subject:

OK, if anyone is interested I found these plastic Ghia sockets
for sale at karmannghia.com

PN 957-397 67 74 OE Dash Light Socket - $3.79 ea

A little expensive but probably more reliable than the 40 year old ones
in my Ghia.

Also bought some of these LED bulbs that fit correctly in these sockets
at http://www.auto-hub.com/index.php/star-leds/vw-type-4
The guys name is Sven and he's very helpful.

This should make the old dash come alive !
JB
_________________
All Hail Snorkelstang !

72 Standard Beetle
74 Karmann Ghia Coupe
76 Fender Telecaster

restonubie · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2014 9:45 pm Post subject:

Two things to check if the LED doesn't work straight away.
The polarity of the bulb (a simple flip and it'll be fine) and the connection of the socket to the instrument body. Other than that they just plug straight in. I think the dimmer switch doesn't dim an LED bulb. Being able to dim a bulb that was barely able to be seen was a bit pointless rearly. The LED's you're getting from Sven are a huge improvement.

AlienJohn · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 4:06 am Post subject:

AlienJohn · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 4:36 am Post subject:

Guys,
Regarding these LED bulbs, I bought several from Sven,
and as I said, he was great to work with.

Q: The instructions say for the alternator dash light I need an "Exciter"
Can someone advise me what that is, and maybe where I can get it?

Thanks
JB - 74 Coupe
_________________
All Hail Snorkelstang !

72 Standard Beetle
74 Karmann Ghia Coupe
76 Fender Telecaster

CiderGuy · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 4:48 am Post subject:

AlienJohn · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 4:52 am Post subject:

AlienJohn · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 11:36 am Post subject:

OK, the backyard hillbilly mechanic needs your help again.

Regarding the four "dummy lights" in the clock of my 74 Ghia Coupe
I believe I have them mixed up. (Brights, Alt, turn, Oil)

Tried looking at the schematics but can't find the info I need.
Does anyone have the wire color codes that go to each lamp available?

Example:
Blue/White goes to knee-bone
Green goes to shin-bone

That kinda thing.

Your help (and patience) is much appreciated.
JB in Ohio
_________________
All Hail Snorkelstang !

72 Standard Beetle
74 Karmann Ghia Coupe
76 Fender Telecaster

KGCoupe · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 1:29 pm Post subject:

If you look under the Technical tab at the top of the page, then go down to Wiring, and then to Ghia, you can find a total of three different documents under the 1974 model year:
- the full color wiring diagram at http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiring/73-74ghia.jpg
- the key to the wiring diagram at http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiring/73-74-ghia-key.jpg
- the fuse block key at http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiring/74kg_fuses.jpg

Start at the key to the wiring diagram (the second link above) and read down the list of components until you find the one that you are looking for.
For example, a little more than 2/3 of the way down the left side column, you will find the Generator Charging Warning Light listed.
The key tells you that on the colored wiring diagram, that particular light has been given the name K2.
Following the name and description of the component that you are interested in, you will see a listing (highlighted in yellow on that particular key) that tells you which "current track" that the item is connected to.
In the case of K2 (the Generator Charging Warning Light), we see that it is connected to current track 45.

Now that we know what it's called and where to look, we can go to the colored wiring diagram (the first link listed above) and look at the yellow bar with numbers increasing from left to right located at the bottom of the page.
Scan along this yellow bar to the right until you reach the number 45 - this is how you find the "current track 45" that is reffered to in the key as being the one that our Generator Charging Warning Light, or "K2" as he is known by his good friends, is connected to.

Put your finger on the number 45 and trace upwards on the colored wiring diagram until you spot K2 (or the artist formerly known as Generator Charging Warning Light), and there you should see what color wire should be connected to it - solid blue.

Now repeat for the other dummy lights and you should be good to go. Smile

AlienJohn · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2014 2:08 pm Post subject:

KGCoupe,
This is an immense help,
I had no idea how to read these guys, I TRULY appreciate it friend !
JB
_________________
All Hail Snorkelstang !

72 Standard Beetle
74 Karmann Ghia Coupe
76 Fender Telecaster

sdinges · Samba Member Joined: March 05, 2014 Posts: 85 Location: NC

Well I just finished installing the LEDs and the turn signal and high beams work great. The oil pressure LED works but it provides a low glow after the engine starts. Which is odd, because I thought LEDs were either on or off.

Also, the gauge lights are not working. I tested before I installed and they worked but my gauges are dark and I am stumped.

The clock has ground wires but I don't see a similar ground wire for the speedo

Suggestions, tips, advice?

Thanks

Sean

hybridvw · Samba Member Joined: July 06, 2005 Posts: 31

Hey Guys, The two biggest problems with 1/4 turn holders is Oxidation and Polarity. After several decades the outside metal on the gauge oxidizes which makes for a bad electrical connection. It is best to take some abrasive to the outside edge of the opening and the brass contact of the holder. This will help eliminate 80% of problems.

Polarity is just a matter of getting the LED in the proper direction.

Here is a trick to help, if you look through the clear plastic on all the Star LEDs you will see a Resister and a Diode.

The Resistor has 4 color stripes and the Diode is orange glass with 1 black stripe at the end.

The Resistor is Positive (+) and the Diode is Negative(-).

The wire side of the bulb on the Oil, Turn signal, Alternator all go to Ground (-). The rest are Positive (+).

Hope this helps
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~~ LEDs for VW Porsche Gauges ~~

sdinges · Samba Member Joined: March 05, 2014 Posts: 85 Location: NC

Well I think I have tried everything but is it possible for the switch to work correctly; ie Head lights but not the instrument panel?

I have traced the 58b wire using the diagram from the switch and I see that it also connects to the ground on the back of the speedo but the lights still don't illuminate but my headlamps/running work.

Advice, suggestions, thanks.


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