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Wiring Problem! Please Help!
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houseofboyd
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 3:15 pm    Post subject: Wiring Problem! Please Help! Reply with quote

Don't know exactly what happened, but here's the situation. Right now, I have no brake lights and my drivers side headlight does not work, low beam or high beam. I've only found 2 loose wires. I've looked at the schematics until I'm blue, but they're greek to me. Hoping somebody can help. This is a '68 Beetle...I think my brake issue is related to the pics below. Any help will be appreciated...

Red wire, with small connector..comes up through the wheel well... where does it go????

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GArBa
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 3:46 pm    Post subject: Re: Wiring Problem! Please Help! Reply with quote

houseofboyd wrote:

Red wire, with small connector..comes up through the wheel well... where does it go????


that's the signal wire for the brake warning light. it should go on terminal "K" on the back of the warning light itself. That's not normally directly related to the issues you are experiencing.
maybe one of the MC switches was going bad and someone removed that wire to avoid having the warning light on constantly when braking?
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MacLeod Willy
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 3:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Check the ground wire on the front left headlight
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houseofboyd
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 5:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ok, got the headlights to work...I actually feel like a bumbling idiot...dirty terminals in the fuse panel...removed the fuses, sanded the terminals, replaced fuses and the headlights work, both dim and bright lights, even the indicator in the speedo works now....so that problem is solved...now I need to figure out why the brake lights don't work.... Sad
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houseofboyd
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 6:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

At least for now, everything is working except for the brake lights....will address this tomorrow...thank you for your input and suggestions...
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 6:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

houseofboyd wrote:
Ok, got the headlights to work...I actually feel like a bumbling idiot...dirty terminals in the fuse panel...removed the fuses, sanded the terminals, replaced fuses and the headlights work, both dim and bright lights, even the indicator in the speedo works now....so that problem is solved...now I need to figure out why the brake lights don't work.... Sad


Brake light switches run off the brake fluid pressure in the master cylinder- if your fluid level is too low the switches may not work. Does your pedal feel low or spongy?
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houseofboyd
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 6:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sb001 wrote:
houseofboyd wrote:
Ok, got the headlights to work...I actually feel like a bumbling idiot...dirty terminals in the fuse panel...removed the fuses, sanded the terminals, replaced fuses and the headlights work, both dim and bright lights, even the indicator in the speedo works now....so that problem is solved...now I need to figure out why the brake lights don't work.... Sad


Brake light switches run off the brake fluid pressure in the master cylinder- if your fluid level is too low the switches may not work. Does your pedal feel low or spongy?


No, all new system...new master, lines, etc...I'm pretty sure they were working the other day...so I don't know what has happened...but the brakes are perfect..
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houseofboyd
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 8:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, it's fixed. Wish I could tell you exactly what I did to fix it, but I can't. It must have been a combination of things, but once I verified the brake lights worked by jumping them directly to a hot wire, put everything back and it started working....things that make you go hmmmmmmm. Now the only thing left to fix is the oil light. Sending unit is new, so I'm hoping it's just a bad bulb.....Anybody know of a way to test this with everything still connected?
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 6:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You didn't wrap the threads of your new oil pressure switch with Teflon tape or thread sealer did you? If so, take it off, because it uses the engine block as ground. Also, like you said, check the bulb in the cluster.
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 6:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

houseofboyd wrote:
Now the only thing left to fix is the oil light. Sending unit is new, so I'm hoping it's just a bad bulb.....Anybody know of a way to test this with everything still connected?


Disconnect the wire to the sender, touch the wire to engine metal with the ignition in the on position, and the light should come on.

See above about the ground contact of the sender being through the threads to the case. And don't overtighten a sender.
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houseofboyd
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 1:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yep...disconnected the wire from the sending unit, grounded it to the motor and the light came on....so, I removed the sending unit, cleaned it, reinstalled, now everything works.... Smile
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Last edited by houseofboyd on Sat Feb 28, 2015 2:17 pm; edited 1 time in total
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volkswagen_bug
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 1:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks like you're all set.
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houseofboyd
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 2:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

volkswagen_bug wrote:
Looks like you're all set.


Yep...thanks for your input! Much appreciated!
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