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Dave
Samba Elder
Joined: July 11, 2002
Posts: 2693
Location: The Forest Moon of Endor, in the Redwoods
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 Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 7:09 pm Post subject: Instrument lights question |
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Hi, all, I know a lot of you, but I am an admitted newbie to the Karmann Ghia World. Been into VWs since my first new one off the showroom floor in 1969.. Speaking of 1969, that is the year of the Karmann Ghia that just landed in my lap...Been working through some of the issues, when I got it, NOTHING electrical worked, like I didn't have a battery. So far, I have high and low beams, turn signals, brake lights, emergency flashers, and wipers...getting there.  . My question is, I am in the process of trying to get illumination to the speedo.. I am used to the old metal bulb holders/sockets, either with the spade end or the screw in end, but the speedo in this Ghia has these weird (to me) plastic twist-lock holders...Are these stock? Can I replace them with metal ones with the spade connectors ? Thanks in advance for the sage advice!
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2003 Samba Chummie Winner- Best Story
"Those that matter, don't mind,
and those that mind, don't matter" |
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crocteau
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2005
Posts: 1204
Location: Philaburbia
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| Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 5:30 am Post subject: Re: Instrument lights question |
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| Dave wrote: |
| I am used to the old metal bulb holders/sockets, either with the spade end or the screw in end, but the speedo in this Ghia has these weird (to me) plastic twist-lock holders...Are these stock? |
Yep, stock in Ghias from '67 and Bays from '68.
| Dave wrote: |
| Can I replace them with metal ones with the spade connectors ? |
I think one would be hard pressed to make the change, but where there's a will, there's a way. My Mom's '66 Beetle had the metal bulb holders, while both my '71 Ghia and '72 Bus have the original plastic twist-lock holders and none of them ever malfunctioned, so my advice is leave well enough alone. FWIW the plastic twist-lock holders are half the price of the metal ones.  |
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Braukuche
Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004
Posts: 11004
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| Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 7:05 am Post subject: Re: Instrument lights question |
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I hate the plastic ones. I always have a hard time getting them into the gauge, but once you figure it out they work fine.
_________________
Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now |
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crocteau
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2005
Posts: 1204
Location: Philaburbia
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| Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 7:24 am Post subject: Re: Instrument lights question |
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| Braukuche wrote: |
| I hate the plastic ones. I always have a hard time getting them into the gauge... |
Twist and shout |
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Braukuche
Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004
Posts: 11004
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| Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 7:52 am Post subject: Re: Instrument lights question |
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| crocteau wrote: |
| Braukuche wrote: |
| I hate the plastic ones. I always have a hard time getting them into the gauge... |
Twist and shout |
_________________
Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now |
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Dave
Samba Elder
Joined: July 11, 2002
Posts: 2693
Location: The Forest Moon of Endor, in the Redwoods
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| Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 2:46 pm Post subject: Re: Instrument lights question |
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I have power going to all the connections, from the light switch to the fuel gauge, and then on to the two in the speedo at the top. When I probe the wire, or the connector, my test light shines bright, as in, I have power..Where does one acquire those strange little connectors, and those push in bulbs? Hard to believe all 3 bulbs are bad, but....
_________________
2003 Samba Chummie Winner- Best Story
"Those that matter, don't mind,
and those that mind, don't matter" |
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crocteau
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2005
Posts: 1204
Location: Philaburbia
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| Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: Instrument lights question |
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| Dave wrote: |
| Hard to believe all 3 bulbs are bad.... |
Agreed, I may have replaced one in my '72 Bus since it was new; can you borrow a multimeter for a quick bulb check? Or if you're brave and steady handed you might tempt fate with some alligator clips, wire, and your battery You may be familiar with this place: https://airheadparts.com/vw-part/bulb-dash-12v-2/ |
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Dave
Samba Elder
Joined: July 11, 2002
Posts: 2693
Location: The Forest Moon of Endor, in the Redwoods
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| Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 5:32 pm Post subject: Re: Instrument lights question |
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Yeah, I've known Scott Dempster for probably 30 years. The Airhead Parts Treffen Border to Border Cruise always stays the second night of the cruise in our little town..,It seems weird that I have power to each and every wire that is supposed to be for gauge illumination has power right up to where it enters the gauge, but I still get nothing.
But thank you for the link, I was having a devil of a time finding those little suckers...
_________________
2003 Samba Chummie Winner- Best Story
"Those that matter, don't mind,
and those that mind, don't matter" |
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crocteau
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2005
Posts: 1204
Location: Philaburbia
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| Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 5:39 pm Post subject: Re: Instrument lights question |
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| De nada. I figured you're well grounded... |
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Braukuche
Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004
Posts: 11004
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| Posted: Mon Jun 12, 2023 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: Instrument lights question |
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Always check the bulbs first. I know, seems unlikely, but it’s usually the case.
_________________
Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now |
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kiwighia68
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2013
Posts: 2875
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2023 12:05 pm Post subject: Re: Instrument lights question |
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| crocteau wrote: |
| Braukuche wrote: |
| I hate the plastic ones. I always have a hard time getting them into the gauge... |
Twist and shout 8) |
I have those fiddly plastic ones too, and I can tell you Charley, it's more like twist and CURSE.
But once they're in and work, it's twist and SIGH.
(I no longer fit them from the front trunk. I'd rather drop the steering column (loosening the bolts under the dash) and pull the speedo out into the car.)
Fiddly buggers, those plastic bulb holders.
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Festina lente - hasten slowly
1968 Ghia named Emiko
Resto completed Dec 2015 |
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Dave
Samba Elder
Joined: July 11, 2002
Posts: 2693
Location: The Forest Moon of Endor, in the Redwoods
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| Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2023 4:06 pm Post subject: Re: Instrument lights question |
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I, for some reason, simply cannot get those little bastards to stay in place !!! I've searched youtube to see if anyone has shot a video on the orientation of the holder when it goes into the gauge, and which way it should be twisted, but can't find anything. Can anyone talk me through this? Please?
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2003 Samba Chummie Winner- Best Story
"Those that matter, don't mind,
and those that mind, don't matter" |
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crocteau
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2005
Posts: 1204
Location: Philaburbia
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| Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 5:27 am Post subject: Re: Instrument lights question |
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Well, since you asked so politely I'll have a go. As noted by kiwighia you might want to pull the speedo out of the dash, especially if you have banana-like fingers or if you're like me and find it increasingly difficult to simultaneously reach and see the back of the speedo from inside the trunk. First, take a look at the nice photo posted by VWDruid in this thread https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=514606: note the holes for the lights in the speedo have flats, and two of the flats opposite each other have detents. Now, study the end of the plastic bulb holder and note the two protrusions nearest to the bulb along with the protruding "ear" offset 90° from those two protrusions. Your mission is to orient the plastic bulb holder such that the two small protrusions nearest the bulb are offset CCW slightly from the two detents, then press and turn the bulb holder to engage the protrusions under the detents. Also in that photo note the little rivets interspersed among the holes: if the plastic bulb holder isn't oriented "just so" then those little rivets can interfere with the ear, making it impossible to "press and turn." Good luck! At least three of us are rooting for you! |
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John Moxon 
Samba Moderator
Joined: March 07, 2004
Posts: 13954
Location: Southampton U.K.
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Dave
Samba Elder
Joined: July 11, 2002
Posts: 2693
Location: The Forest Moon of Endor, in the Redwoods
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| Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 11:44 am Post subject: Re: Instrument lights question |
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Got it !!!! I guess it is all in holding your teeth just right, and getting it started in precisely the correct place. Clock light still doesn't work, but neither does the clock, so I am not too concerned about that. Thank You for the help, everyone !!!
_________________
2003 Samba Chummie Winner- Best Story
"Those that matter, don't mind,
and those that mind, don't matter"
Last edited by Dave on Thu Aug 03, 2023 8:23 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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crocteau
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2005
Posts: 1204
Location: Philaburbia
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| Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 2:27 pm Post subject: Re: Instrument lights question |
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| Dave wrote: |
| Thank You for the hell, everyone !!! |
Always happy to give folks hell! |
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Dave
Samba Elder
Joined: July 11, 2002
Posts: 2693
Location: The Forest Moon of Endor, in the Redwoods
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| Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2023 8:24 pm Post subject: Re: Instrument lights question |
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| crocteau wrote: |
| Dave wrote: |
| Thank You for the hell, everyone !!! |
Always happy to give folks hell! |
Damn. sometimes, I really hate talk to text... fixed it.
_________________
2003 Samba Chummie Winner- Best Story
"Those that matter, don't mind,
and those that mind, don't matter" |
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