Electrical light issues

[Parkerm463]

About 2 weeks ago my left rear blinker went out, and now my blinkers aren't working when I use the blinkers. They only seem to come on when I use the hazards, except for the left rear blinker, don't know what's happening don't want all the lights to go off. PLEASE HELP. I did see smoke come from where I believe the fuses are before this happened, keep in mind this is my first Volkswagen restoration. It's a 73 Volkswagen beetle standard not a super

[Nitramrebrab72]

Are you sure the smoke wasn't coming from the steering column?

[Dale M.]

About left rear blinker, check bulb sometimes it is just poor contact in socket or look to see if it's burned out, if not burned out maybe bulb socket lost its ground (to fender)... If not then check to see if wire to bulb has come loose ...

Something like this test probe below ($5-$10 at FLAPS) can be big help.... Alligator clip on clean ground and light comes on then you have power where even probe is touching, if light does not come on when probe touches a "contact point" then no power... Chase wires back to where you find power, the problem is somewhere near...

About the smoke.... Order "harness smoke" replacement kit...

Just kidding ... This kit is for cars with LUCAS wiring and gauges.... IF its not smoking now, look for burnt (crispy-charred) melted insulation on wires around fuse panel or turn signal switch... Smoke comes from excessive heat, and heat leave telltale signs on wires and parts as they do not look "normal" as rest of wiring and such.... Check fuses on fuse panel, one may have blown to "protect" system if one or more is blown there is a problem down stream from fuse panel...

This is where you are going to learn about cars electrical system...

I know is for a 70 beetle but it's easier to follow than the wiring diagram for 73 and its almost identical...

Miserable isn't it...

Dale
_________________
“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.

"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[Parkerm463]

So I found that number 12 fuse is burned, so I will replace, but if that doesn't work what do I do?

[Dale M.]

S-12 seems to power emergency flasher switch, emergency flasher relay, generator, oil pressure , turn signal warning light, emergency flasher warning light...

IF you counted fuse panel wrong and its S-1 it's all your rear tail and marker lights....

Dale
_________________
“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.

"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
============================================================
All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[Parkerm463]

So I don't understand why my hazards work, but my blinkers don't

[FreeBug]

Also, know that some spade connections which look good may not be. Corrosion, cracks, fraying, etc.. You sometimes need to take them all off, run a wire brush (batt disconnected if you don't like sparks) over the connector prongs on the fusebox, and put them back on. I use something called "electrical paste", which looks like thick copper grease...not sure exactly what makes it "electric". Helps from the problem coming back, though, protects from corrosion. Improves electrical conductivity? Don't know.

If you go over a whole stock era wiring loom, you WILL find connectors like this, or which won't survive disconnecting, somewhere.

If it's hazards when you blink, I'd follow up and see where they connect for the hazard, that's where they are connected.

[Nitramrebrab72]

I ask again are you sure the smoke wasn't coming from the steering column?? I think you have a warn out indicator selector switch It is in the steering column , a fuse blowing doesn't create smoke but a short in the column would, it would also burn out a bulb on the selected side and eventually the fuse.

[Dale M.]

[Parkerm463]

[Parkerm463]

Thank you all so much, you have helped me narrow it down to a select few issues that could be the issue. So I will be replacing quite a bit for good measure.

[Dale M.]

Don't fix things that are not broken..... Learn about automotive electricals and only replace what is bad... Learning is cheap, blatant replacement get expensive and may not solve problem....

Dale
_________________
“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns" - Thomas Jefferson.

"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
============================================================
All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[Nitramrebrab72]

I would just check the steering column switch out before replacing it, I don't think you can get original factory ones, it would be a shame to replace a functional original one for an aftermarket copy. On top of the cost.
Take the steering wheel off have a good look, maybe take a pic and zoom in and look for areas it may be shorting out. Possibly use continuty test between the switch (+) at different sides of it and earth (--) while wiggling it about indicating left to right to see if you can provoke a shorting out senario. So that's battery cable + only removed tester set to resistance and if you get any kind of reading you don't have to get a 0 ohms but a reaction will indicate an interment short.

[Parkerm463]

[Parkerm463]

[Nitramrebrab72]

Simulate a short but with the + cable disconnected from battery using a electricians tester set to resistance (ohms) to check for short.