Right.

So my brake lights decide not to turn on. So I go check the fuse box (which I haven't checked since I bought the car about a month ago), and one 16 amp fuse is not in the correct place.

Following the '71 Owner's manual, for me the 16 amp fuses were located at 3 and 11, when they should be at 9 and 11.



With the fuses in incorrect order, I start trying to determine which fuses are correct. I start with #1, which controls the fuel gauge, warning lights and turn signals. I remove the #1 fuse, turn the key, and they all work. I try from the opposite side, looking at #12, and they all work except for the turn signals.

So I decided to ask here first, in case anyone else with a '71 S bug had had the same problem. Otherwise I will set some time aside to take each fuse out and check what is / isn't working.

Thanks,
Gaston.

Note: My horn is also not working, and a spare part for it is on its way. I tried replacing the #3 fuse with #12 (which works), and the brake lights still didn't go on.

Oh, and if you'd like a '71 wiring diagram, here is one:

in my experience, one of the main causes of electrical components not working in old cars is a poor Earth. Follow the Earth - make sure it's good.

Also, i had a similar problem in a 67 bug i had, try checking the wires are connected on the Master Cylinder and that they also have good connections.

I would be checking the switch on cylinder first

Can you use a multimeter - test light?

Thanks for replying!

I'll take a look at the master cylinder brake light switches tomorrow, and see how that goes. I'll also take a look at what the fuses control tomorrow, and see where that leads me.

As for a multimeter / test light, I can more than easily get one. I take it this might be for checking the fuses / voltage for the fuse "connectors", or simply to check up on any other electrical component. I hadn't really bought anything (tools wise) since I'd purchased the car, since I haven't really driven it much since then and didn't expect for any problems to arise so soon, but am more than happy to get my collection started.

A good multi meter is always handy - a test light (bulb, holder and 2 wires) is good for checking for volts, but cant check continuity (wires, fuses, earth)

You will need one or the other to check the brake switch

http://www.jaycar.com.au/Test-%26-Measurement/Multimeters/Digital/Mini-Digita...

Ok.

So today I replaced all the fuses and went through all the electrical components that I could, systematically taking out a fuse and seeing what didn't work. If you want to see the "results", I will type it up, otherwise everything is basically reversed (when compared to the owner's manual). The licence plate light, which should be connected to #12 (the 12th fuse), is actually bound to #1, whereas the indicators are affected by number #12, instead of #1.

The brake lights are now working (connected to #10), but I was just wondering if anyone knew why this fuse-box pattern is reversed?

Or is a LHD?

It's a RHD, and is made in Australia as far as I know. The owner's manual isn't though, I think it's American (It's the same as the picture above).

So is this where this "inversion" lies, whereby I am trying to match American (if it is) specs to an Australian car - Although I can't see why this would be the case...

Or someone has fit the fuse box upside down...!

No, I don't think so. It looks the same as the picture (the cover fits that way atleast). Although looking at the pictures on the cover, it would seem that the wiper and turn signals would be controlled by #12 or the fuses closer to the RHS, since the LHS pictures look like they control the lights, which they do.