Weird problem I have with stop lights & horn

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 26 Jul 2016, 10:21 pm

#1028513

I'm not looking for a reply or how to fix it, as if You saw My wiring You wouldn't try to fix anything... 😂🤪

I have had an ongoing problem the past few years since I took out the VW fusebox and replaced it with a NARVA fusebox, but I never got to connect it up.. after leaning over into the boot/back of dash for a few hours, My back started to complain... so, I used circuit breakers instead of hooking up the fuse box... Now, this was all temporary [about 5 years ago] and I have about 50 wires behind the dash.... and My battery started going flat about 3 years ago, as every time I used the brakes, the Volt meter would go down to about 11 volts [from 14 volts] and then I replaced the $260 large capacity battery with a much cheaper version.. and driving around town and using the brakes all the time the battery was nearly flat when I got home..
I decided to replace all the normal bulbs with very bright LED bulbs but low wattage... I was replacing one of the tail lamps today and when I plugged the stop/tail LED in with the tail lamps ON, the tail lamp went on but when I plugged the stoplight side of the bulb, the tail lamp went out, and then I thought I heard "HERBIE" go BEEP, so, I kept touching the terminal to the stop lamp and there was a very faint "BEEP"..

So, 1st off, I now know where ALL My voltage has been going when I use the brakes.... into the Horn.. This was with the ignition OFF, so the stop lamp shouldn't have been connected to anything, much less the horn which also only works with the ignition ON...???
So I now know what was causing the problem... I could replace the stop LED with an ordinary bulb as they work normally apart from the huge current drain... or disconnect the horn??? That won't do....
Now back to the 50 wires.... 😂😎

Lee

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

waltermitty Legend when my beer goggles are on

1,993 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 26 Jul 2016, 11:50 pm

#1028516

Lee ,,, you have an electrical problem. Could it be a symptom of your HIVW disease? Mitch

23 windows ...8 too many!

modnrod Fahrvergnugen

978 posts · joined Mar 2011 · 27 Jul 2016, 5:09 am

#1028518

9 out of 10 electrical problems are in the carby.

I'd start there.

southspark Seriously Crusin Dubber

130 posts · joined Mar 2007 · 27 Jul 2016, 8:56 pm

#1028532

Hi Lee

If you can remember how many fuses your original fuse box had,let me know and Ill send one FOC. Put the bloody thing back to standard and no more funny feedback! Ill even fill it up with brand new fuses.
Regards Paul
ps. fair dinkum offer!

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 27 Jul 2016, 9:00 pm

#1028533

modnrod wrote:9 out of 10 electrical problems are in the carby.

I'd start there.

Already took out the New carby

Lee

😂

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 27 Jul 2016, 9:19 pm

#1028535

southspark wrote:Hi Lee

If you can remember how many fuses your original fuse box had,let me know and Ill send one FOC. Put the bloody thing back to standard and no more funny feedback! Ill even fill it up with brand new fuses.
Regards Paul
ps. fair dinkum offer!

thanks for the offer Paul but I have so many wires under the dash as I rewired everything and didn't write it down!!!!!
I do have small labels on some of the wires, as i find out what they do....
I have about 15 wires going from the front to the engine bay!!!! plus 3 x 6mm wires from the battery to the back of the dash..
and about 6 relays plus the VW headlamp relay.....

well I disconnected the horn wire going to power with ignition ON....
so the horn doesn't work, and I haven't actually ever wired up the air horns located under the fuel tank.... 🙅
so, My alternator is now charging ALL the time even with the brakes On.... but one tail lamp is going on & on as i drive, plus the headlamps went out tonight... I moved a few wires and connections and back on they came.... I worked on it until My back started aching, so I will have to finish the rewire using circuit breakers, plus fuses... I do have a few fuses in some of the wires too....

Paul. I didn't like the VW wiring system at all.... I like to have a seperate wire for every item... even then I had problems with the fusebox, the copper strips that the fuses sit between kept overheating meaning now a good contact between the strip and the fuses. they were cleaned many times and the ends of the fuses also cleaned... and the copper strip re-tensioned.. every few months... thanks for the off though...
I will succeed... I will succeed....

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

southspark Seriously Crusin Dubber

130 posts · joined Mar 2007 · 28 Jul 2016, 8:20 pm

#1028573

No worries Lee,just keep plugging on .Don't hesitate if there is anything I can help with.

Regards Paul

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 · 29 Jul 2016, 6:53 pm

#1028586

Pay for an auto electrician before the smoke escapes.

southspark Seriously Crusin Dubber

130 posts · joined Mar 2007 · 30 Jul 2016, 8:21 pm

#1028606

I am an auto electrician and I agree. Everything works on smoke ,because once it escapes nothing works.

Paul

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 4 Aug 2016, 6:14 pm

#1028712

vwo60 wrote:Pay for an auto electrician before the smoke escapes.

I would never be able to afford an auto electrician as they would be MORE bamboozled than I am...😂😂
At least I do remember some things, and as I find where the wires go, I do tag them...

and anyone who knows the VW wiring - this is way out of their league..
it's sort of random plus many wires are the same colour....
I have so many "SPARE" wires also... so it should be easy to fix....

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 4 Aug 2016, 6:24 pm

#1028713

southspark wrote:I am an auto electrician and I agree. Everything works on smoke ,because once it escapes nothing works.
Paul

TRUE STORY..
About 12 years ago, I was rewiring a 1969 beetle that belonged to My Son's partner.. I was using a VW wiring diagram that time..
Now there was ONLY one wire under the bonnet that was still connected to something and I was told it should be OK as it hasn't been disconnected..
Anyway I connected all the wires and tested everything with a meter and a test light... [with the passenger door always closed] and everything tested out fine....
When a new battery was fitted and connected all was well until the passenger door was opened and YES SMOKE was coming from behind the dash... as the passenger door interior light switch was connected direct to Power... NOT thru the fuse box....
So, the bonnet was opened and the smoky MELTING wire was disconnected by someone....

I learnt that when people say a wire is connected Ok... Don't listen..
Always check every wire connected or not...

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 4 Aug 2016, 8:55 pm

#1028718

Fit a new fuse Lee that will fix the problem.👍