Split Window Bus turn signal switch

[Ronald Eisel]

I attempted to replace the turn signal switch on my '67 Kombi but found that the "Top Quality Reproduction" part from Cip1 was not as listed. The switch arrived with "instructions" (see picture) on wire/color assignment and pin location. I feel that if I had used the "instructions" I would have has an electrical disaster. I contacted the seller and the Customer Service person suggested that I "Ohm out" the wires and compare them to the VW wiring schematic(s). In other words "go pound sand"!

This is not the first instance of poor quality parts and customer support from this company. Use a bit of caution!

[CanStan]

I bought this same switch from CIP last year. Several colours listed on the instruction sheet didn’t even match the wires on the harness.
I found a good write up in these forums for installing it, but yet again, there were some different colours on that switch too.

Between the Bentley wiring diagram, EIS instructions, and the helpful Samba post, I was able to eventually figure it out. But it definitely wasn’t a straight froward install.

I’m happy with the signal switch now, and it hasn’t given me any issues. But it would be nice if there was some consistency with the manufacturing.

[70bus]

I wonder if wiring colors being different is due to it being expensive and/or harder to source OG colors; I have a 1995 Wiring Works harness which has most wire colors or patterns that are close to factory, but some are wrong. The new harness from Wolfsburg (made by Wiring Works) is much more accurate, so I assume those colors were just not available back then, or needed special ordering in impractical quantities at the time. Cheap overseas repros probably do not bother to make the effort/pay the premium and go with whatever's on the shelf.

A vendor also warned me that headlight switches sold by a competitor were wired in a way that made a direct short and smoked the harnesses as soon as battery was connected. Grains of salt are always good to have handy... but as far as wiring goes I say trust no-one and buy a good multimeter to test everything first.
_________________
Craig K
70 Neunsitzer
65 Pritschenwagen
"If Von Dutch was alive, he'd walk in there with a pistol and shoot these people." - Robert Williams

Raoul the 65 singlecab

Karl the 70 nine-seater

[Ronald Eisel]

I think the sellers do not care enough to make the colors correct. If the correctly color-coded wires are too expensive then numbered or shrink tubing tags denoting the placement would be an alternative. I am exploring a shrink tube tape that fits my Brother P-Touch printer for this purpose to eliminate any confusion arising from the Cip1 turn signal switch that I have.

[CanStan]

I can live with non-factory wire markings / colours on an aftermarket switch. But the fact that my switch had colours that were different from the supplied instructions for said switch made it a pain in the ass.
It is funny how my switch did have several ‘factory’ wire colours, but it would be crazy to expect they connected to the existing Bus harness that matched!

The switch harness also comes with with the wires pre-cut to (presumably) the correct lengths. However, mine was messed up and I had to extend one short wire, and had way too much length on another.
Just all-around weirdness and sloppy, inconsistent manufacturing.

Here’s a photo of the wires laid out:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/2135119.jpg

And here’s the awesome install write up found in the FAQ by DaddaCheese:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=748515

[Ronald Eisel]

Exactly! If the wires (regardless of the colors) were true to a "key" that was supplied with the switch it would be less of a problem. Considering the cost of a new 9 prong flasher relay and/or an electrical melt-down the sellers should be held accountable, but more than likely they would claim the installation was incorrect causing the problem.

The link of the fanned-out wires isn't applicable to the switch/wiring used on my '67. The Blue and Brown wires ARE used as shown on the VW schematics.

[70bus]

Bought this specifically to label wires in both buses. Has way more settings than I need, but should make it easier some dark night to figure where a disconnected wire went.

Also plan to label te snot outta all the wires in the attic, so worth the expense.

I was trying to figure out an NOS universal switch earlier FWIW
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=785152
_________________
Craig K
70 Neunsitzer
65 Pritschenwagen
"If Von Dutch was alive, he'd walk in there with a pistol and shoot these people." - Robert Williams

Raoul the 65 singlecab

Karl the 70 nine-seater

[Ronald Eisel]

Excellent solution to what seems to be a common problem.