Wiring question

[6T5 square]

I have a 1960 beetle- electrical system is basically stock.
I’m trying to chase down an issue with fuse #4 blowing out. This fuses serves the right tail light and the license plate light. According to the wiring diagrams , there should only be one hot wire coming from the fuse- grey/red. Mine has two- the red/gray and grey?ish with black stripe. I’ve dug through the diagrams and traced the wire as far as I can. I think this mystery gray might be the lead off of the left parking light. Now that lead is supposed to go to terminal 57 on my light switch but as you see from the picture below, my 57 has no connection.

Is this the reason for the short? Do I have an incorrect switch?

All help is appreciated
Tha ks
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John
65 square 1500S (weezer) sold but always on my mind
60 beetle (Ned)

Quoting John Muir -- Open the rear boot. Get out the stool and sit down. Contemplate the air-cooled beauty before you. - How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive -- Step-By-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot

[Aynthm]

Check the wiring diagram for a 1961 in the technical section notice where the wires from the right tail light go.

[6T5 square]

1961 uses the larger fuse block. Those started in Aug 60. Mines from Jan 60.
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John
65 square 1500S (weezer) sold but always on my mind
60 beetle (Ned)

Quoting John Muir -- Open the rear boot. Get out the stool and sit down. Contemplate the air-cooled beauty before you. - How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive -- Step-By-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot

[EVfun]

It is not the original headlight switch because screw terminals where used on Bugs through 1960.

30 is constant power. There should be 2 red wires, one is power in from the back of the car and the other carries power on to the fuse block (and from there it goes back to the ignition switch).

56 is headlights. It does to the floor dimmer switch.

58 is the tail lights in a stock setup. It goes to the fuse block where it feeds 2 fuses that go to the back of the car.

58b is the dash light power and with dimmer function. It is unfused so please don't short it.

57 is for the front parking lights, and unfused, when everything is stock. It was not used on many non-US models and is often missing from replacement switches. When using one of these switches that gray/black wire is generally hooked to the fuse block with the other gray/black wire that powers the left tail light. This means your front parking lights will now be fused. This also means your front parking lights will be on when the headlights are on.

The number 4 fuse blowing means you have a short in the wiring at some point after the fuse. Fuses don't blow if the short is before the power goes through them. What is connected to fuse 4? If someone connected the front parking lights (originally headlight switch terminal 57) to that fuse I would suspect that circuit first. From experience, the screw terminal parking light bulb holders are very close to shorting out against the bottom of the headlight bucket -- with a little bump they commonly do.

My first car was a 1960 Bug.
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[6T5 square]

So the front parking lights should be connected to the number 3 fuse. As I said it was connected to #4(right tail lens). When I removed the parking light wire from #4, the directional worked without popping the fuse so I will check out your suggestion of the bulb holder grounding it out.
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John
65 square 1500S (weezer) sold but always on my mind
60 beetle (Ned)

Quoting John Muir -- Open the rear boot. Get out the stool and sit down. Contemplate the air-cooled beauty before you. - How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive -- Step-By-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot

[napgonz]

I have almost the identical problem. I will go through the suggestions here and will inform results

[thomas.]

You can use the tail light spot on the switch #58 but you will probably need a piggy back connector.
https://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=A8788

The beetle switch Wolfsburg west sells probably doesn't have the (57) either but the bus switch might . https://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=211941511D
You could try contacting them. You would then remove the bracket on the bus switch to use on your bug.

[Jeff Geisen]

In case ya didn’t know, those numbers at the spade connectors tell you who they are and where they can go. They’re universal and international.
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I Corinthians 4: 1 thru 5

‘63 ragtop - ‘68 single cab

[napgonz]

[EVfun]