Backup Lights Wiring

[Buggo]

Hi there,

My beetle is a 1967 that is mostly untouched especially when it comes to the electrical. Im installing reverse lights and am noticing that there is NOT an inline fuse in the lead heading to the coil. If this car was 100% stock, there would be an inline fuse right? Im just a little surprised that the fuse isnt there. Everything looks stock. So just install a fuse before i set up the lights? Is that the general consensus here?

Ricky

[andk5591]

Yep - Just install an 8A fuse....and we ARE talking about a 50 year old car....Sometimes things get misplaced...
_________________
D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
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 - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[67rustavenger]

[mukluk]

Just for clarification's sake, there should be an inline fuse in the wire from the coil to the reverse light switch, but not an inline fuse in the wire going to the coil from the fuse block/ignition switch. You are more than welcome to install a fuse going to the coil if you wish, being something that I feel the factory was remiss in not doing, but be aware that there was not one originally.
_________________
1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga"

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

Just for additional information.. the 67 reverse lamp fuse is NOT indicated in the wiring schematic ... but it is originally right.. here..

_________________
aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
Usually and often edited

[Buggo]

Here is that exact location on my bug. Why would anyone remove the inline fuse? Seems like a pain in the ass to rewire...because i dont see a break on the wire that would indicate the fuse had been just snipped out. Infact i even tested the lights and they defiantly work. so someone snipped out the fuse and rewired it. Is that the conclusion we are all coming to? any idea why anyone would do that?

Ricky

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=1756500

[andk5591]

I am not questioning Volkswagnut's comment about the correct fuse location....Lord knows that I have yet to work on an unmolested car, BUT every car that I have worked on has had the fuse close to the coil and not on the passenger side of the shroud.
_________________
D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
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 - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[mukluk]

Something I've wondered is if the '67 backup lights weren't provided with an inline fuse until sometime after initial production started, possibly a mid-production change that was made due to problems popping up with the lights or wiring. Two things that support that theory would be the October '66 dated wiring diagram noted already that doesn't show a fuse, as well as the August '66 owner's manual that doesn't show or make mention of a fuse for the backup lights anywhere (the fuse and holder is specifically mentioned starting in the '68 owner's manual).
_________________
1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga"

[KTPhil]

My brother's all-original '67 Euro 1500 from about 1974 had it in the upper right:

(yeah, I know the fuel filter was not original!)

Also, in about 1976, my '67 USA 1500 had it in the same position.

My late Type 3 cars had them on the left side near the coil, however.

[Buggo]

[KTPhil]

Someone got the "changes" document handy?

[Buggo]

Ok so do I need a special fuse holder or can I just get any old one at a normal shucks auto or something?

[Cusser]

[mukluk]

You could search the classifieds for an original if you wish, another option would be BugCity: https://www.bugcity.com/shop/shop.lasso?pquery=111937091A
_________________
1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga"

[Meiang]

I have a VW original retro fit kit to install reverse lamps on cars which were not fitted with them. The part number is 135 998 135.

The kit includes:
1) the entire wiring loom (including fuse holder)
2) gearbox switch
3) bulb holders to put in the rear lamp units

You might find this kit if you keep an eye out on Ebay.de or Ebay.co.uk

[Buggo]

Ok got an inline fuse holder from JBugs: http://www.jbugs.com/product/111-848.html

What i got did not look like whats in the picture, infact, what i got was nicer then whats pictured. Anyways installed it and the lights work perfectly. Thanks for the help eveyone.

[VOLKSWAGNUT]

To ad more information. . to show the fuse holder clip and reversing lamp fuse location for a 1967.
From here https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/techbulletins/e3.php

_________________
aka Ken {o\!/o}
Its your vehicle- stop askin' for approval-do what YOU like for cryin' out loud
Better to roll em' how you want and wear em' out-than lettin' em' rot out
Its about the going not the showing
Rebuilt to drive not decorate
WANTED: Local Eatin' Joints, Triple D for TheSamba contributions here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=570510
Search "VOLKSWAGNUT" on YouTube since you cant watch a "certain" BELT change video round here
Usually and often edited

[vdubmyk]

[KTPhil]

The typical retrofit kit did not come with a fuse. Here are the instructions:

You can see that they used the end fuse in the existing fusebox.

There is another kit, which used a switch inline with the speedo cable (lower left, below); that type might have used a fuse, but I just see a connector that probably went to the existing fusebox, like the later kit.

If you want to wire it like the originals, use a fuseholder off the coil and the tranny switch. The photos further above show a type similar to the original. Original below:

[harrymarlin]

Following up on this - my 67 (mid-Oct) also only has a clean wire from the coil to the back-up lights, although my new Wolfsburg West wiring harness calls for a fuse. I would like to keep my car as stock as possible, so should I include it? Garwood suggests it should have been there from the beginning, so any ideas on why mine (and Buggo's) 67s may have not had inline fuses, when others seem to? It's not like mine was at the very start of 67 production.
_________________
-Harry
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1967 Ruby Red Convertible Beetle ("Becky")
ISO Albuquerque "Imported Motors" dealership paraphernalia