Headlight Switch Plug layout

[Whaanga]

I need to replace the headlight switch on my 73 bus.

The switch in the bus is labeled 211 941 531E and has the following pins:

56
58
58b
58R
58L
30
X

Mine is wired like this:

56 - Black & White
58 - Grey
58b - Grey & Red
58R - Black & Red
58L - unused
30 - Red
X - Black & Yellow

But as I look at switches on the market, none of them have a plug labeled 58R (and I've looked on the classifieds and from commercial vendors).

As I look at the schematic, I don't see 58R (or the corresponding black & red wire that mine has)

And in fact, the only black & red wire I see on the schematic is for the ignition switch:

My question are: 1) Do I need to connect the black & red wire since it does not appear on the schematic?

2) What is the function of the black & red wire as shown in the schematic at the ignition switch?

3) Is my switch wired incorrectly?

Thanks,

Jeff
_________________
Late 1973 Bay w/a transplanted 914 Engine

[telford dorr]

[Whaanga]

Thank You telford dorr,

I checked the black & red wire and it goes directly from 56R terminal to the light in the instrument cluster indicating that the headlights lights are on (on mine, it's a green light). It seems that if I get a new switch (that does not include the 56R terminal) I could utilize a double connecter and attach this wire to 56b. Does that make sense?
_________________
Late 1973 Bay w/a transplanted 914 Engine

[busdaddy]

Sure you don't mean 58?

Odd about the wire to the cluster being black/red, that circuit is usually grey/black, and on most switches it connects to 57. You could use a 58 terminal, but it'll be on even when the headlights are on (instead of just parking lights), if you drive alot at night in the pitch black that bright green light will get old real quick.
Most new switches don't have a 57 terminal for some reason.
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[telford dorr]

That's strange about that wire color but, unfortunately, not unusual. Half of all the buses I've worked on has at least one wire the wrong color, it seems. I think that when VW ran out of a particular wire color over in the electrical department, they substituted whatever they had handy.

Makes diagnosis really hard. Especially when you're replacing something like a fuse block, and bogus wire colors show up on reassembly. (Word to the wise: take a picture of stuff like that. Don't depend on the schematics in the Bentley or Technical to cover all the bases...)

The wire would go to terminal 57. You won't find a switch which has that terminal anymore, but you can fashion a workaround using a cube relay. As Busdaddy says, I wouldn't hook it to 58 - if nothing else, insulate it and ignore it.
_________________
'71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST)

[Whaanga]

[busdaddy]

Correct, it's a Europe deal where the headlights glow dimly instead of the ones we call signals on the first click, extra low beam you might call it.
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[Jrh5r]

Just put in a new switch a few weeks ago. Kind of the same issue. Mine is a US delivered bus according to the M-plate. Also have the same red and black wire that was hooked up to terminal 57. The new switch had no spot for it. I didn’t wire it back up

[busdaddy]

Interesting, as Telford says it must be a "use what ya got" deal, much like the yellow wire on some early FI fuel pump triggers, and the blue/red to the dome light on some campers.
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[Jrh5r]

I think you should be able to tap into a running light wire on the front left or right and use that instead of the switch. I’m going to mess around with mine today since I’ve got the same issue as you. I’ll see what I can figure out.

[Jrh5r]

[JLT]

I know that this thread is a little stale, but it seems to be the best place to get help:

I looked at the headlight switch in my '71 bus just now. It has a marking stamped on it designating it as part # 211-941-531E. It's an aftermarket one, and lacks the #57 terminal that lights up the parking-light indicator on the dash when the parking lights are on but cuts out when the headlights go on.

The curious thing about it is that I went to the JBugs web site to determine the connector layout. It doesn't look like what they call a 211-941-531E at all; it looks, in fact, like a 113-941-531E, which they list as being fitted onto a post-1973 bug, Super Beetle, Ghia, or Thing.

So what gives? The switch seems to work well, except for not having that terminal 57. What was the number of the original '71 switch with that #57 terminal, and is it still available? Everybody seems to sell the later one, not the original.
_________________
-- JLT

Present bus: '71 Dormobile Westie
with an Allstate single-wheel trailer
Past buses: '61 17-window
'70 Frankenwestie
'71 Frankenwestie

[telford dorr]

That's a good question, as the NLA 71-72 switches have both the 57 and X terminals, and thus would seem to be the universal replacement switch...
_________________
'71 panel, now with FI
'Experience' is the ability to recognize a mistake when you're making it again - Franklin P. Jones
In theory, theory works in practice; in practice, it doesn't - William T. Harbaugh
When you're dead, you don't know you're dead. The pain is only felt by others.
Same thing happens when you're stupid. - Philippe Geluck
More VW electrical at http://telforddorr.com/ (available 9am to 9pm PST)

[airschooled]

I wouldn’t trust JBugs for any info other than google ad placement.

Does your ‘71 have the X terminal in the ignition switch?
Robbie
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[germansupplyscott]

'71 part number is 211 941 531. (no letter)

It's not available new unless you find an NOS one.

_________________
SL

[germansupplyscott]

[JLT]

[JLT]

[germansupplyscott]

[telford dorr]