Indicator warning lamp stopped working.

General_Failure Use your head, don't abuse it!

1,036 posts · joined Jun 2004 · 27 Jan 2009, 5:03 pm

#691832

G'day.

Not too long ago the indicator warning lamp on the dash stopped working. The indicators and hazards all still work fine though. The bulb in the cluster is good too.
All the other bulbs illuminate normally.

Yes I have been doing some work behind the dash and I can't say if there was a particular event that upset it.

It seemed to happen at about the time I wired in the replacement nonstandard fuel gauge. trouble is I'm not the most observant for this sort of thing, and personally I don't really care if it doesn't work, but It'll need to work for roadworthy.

I went back in behind the dash today to do some more wiring. Mostly to change the power feed source for the fuel gauge and to attach the backlights for the tach and fuel gauge to the adjuster pot.

I'm open to ideas here.

If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.

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

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 27 Jan 2009, 5:58 pm

#691855

Hi

the blinker bulb in the speedo works when the outside lamps are OFF....
it actually has nothing connected to the outside flasher lamps.... lol its a VW thing...

You could just use a standard 3 pin flasher unit and it will flash with the outside lights...

or put two bulbs somewhere???
and attach each one to one side blinker..
many cars have individual blinkers...

or get two 3mm LEDs and put into the hole individually wired to each side...>>

LEE

PS: I'm about to install a VW speedo with 9 lamps..lol

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

General_Failure Use your head, don't abuse it!

1,036 posts · joined Jun 2004 · 28 Jan 2009, 9:45 am

#691983

the blinker bulb in the speedo works when the outside lamps are OFF....
it actually has nothing connected to the outside flasher lamps.... lol its a VW thing...

Absolutely. But the problem here is a complete failure of the light on the dash to come on at all.

How did you know I was using a tw pin relay? Besides the whole VW flashers liking to die horribly smoky deaths.

It's worked flawlessly for the last 8 years maybe with that relay, and I've done something to mess it up.

It occurred to me that I also recently installed my old under dash amp / equaliser because I seem to have a lot more trouble hearing the stereo than I did before the engine work. Can't say I'm really surprised. It would have been all whoosh and no bang before.

judging from the schematic, the fault can only be between the hazard switch and the bulb. That's only three possible causes. I suppose I could go out there and pull the cluster off again to check the hazard switch.

What are the 9 lamps on the speedo by the way? Unless it is very well backlit I'm stumped.

If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.

vwsteve karmann crazy

2,087 posts · joined Jul 2006 · 28 Jan 2009, 10:05 am

#691989

sounds like a poor conection or bad earth, follow the wires and wiggle them at the conections with the indicator on?

1 1963 356b porsche coupe
2 1960 karmann ghia cab
1 1965 karmann ghia cab
1 1966 karmann cab
1 1961 split ute
1 1967 split p/van
1 1952 standard bug
1 1963 ragtop
1 1960 ragtop
2 1954 ovals
1 1956 oval baja project
1 1957 oval flying flea

General_Failure Use your head, don't abuse it!

1,036 posts · joined Jun 2004 · 28 Jan 2009, 10:27 am

#691991

Went through did all that just now. Traced the looms, checked connections, wires etc.

Then I decided to test the bulb again. Swapped it with high beam. The high beam warning didn't work! and the indicator warning light worked fine.
The filament isn't blown in the bulb. All I can guess is that the lead wires have gone a bit funny or something.

So, where do I get a replacement tiny little bulb?

If they are hard to find I'll just make an LED based solution.

Thanks for the input. Turns out it was just the curse of the intermittent bulb.

If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.

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

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 28 Jan 2009, 1:12 pm

#692020

Hi
All VW shops like Mick Motors VVD ClassicVD Leons motors
Stokers siding - Wolsburg Auto - Volkshome- Rivo -
all the advertisers in VWA magazine..
Auto electricians would also have those bulbs..

those bulbs are no longer used in any vehicles so they would not be available at auto cheap etc.. maybe REPCO may still have them.. 12v 2w

You can buy these LED bulbs in different colors..
from bright light auto parts [also on e bay]

Owning a VW means You need to have spares on hand..
as You are not going to be able to stop anywhere and buy a fan belt if it breaks - and You cannot drive a beetle with a broken fan belt- headlamp bulbs are the same...

You need to remember that these are parts for a 30+ year old car...

cheers

LEE

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

General_Failure Use your head, don't abuse it!

1,036 posts · joined Jun 2004 · 28 Jan 2009, 2:37 pm

#692042

It's all very well and good carrying spares, as I used to do. Parts around here are 100% unobtainable though unless I can buy them online (which I do when I can) and it's been a struggle to get hold of anything. That is the reason my van has so many mods to it and generally nonstandard parts. i use what I can get.

Always used to carry a spare fanbelt in the beetle. Don't have one for the van, but they don't cook in 10 seconds when the belt breaks.

I generally did carry a spare distributor, rotor, bits of wire, tape, fuses, wiring connectors, fuel pump and a pile of lights in the van though.

Not currently though because it is unreg'd and has no permit so it's not going anywhere.

Not sure I actually want to try repco. Every time I go looking for things, I get "No, but X would have them." Weeks later of following leads I've wasted time and money.

Well, at least something good came from all this today. I found the problem, and I also fixed the calibration error in the fuel gauge. I configured it for the wrong sender. For the first time ever, I have a VW with a properly working (albeit non-VW) fuel gauge.

It also has a pretty green backlight.

Well, i also figured out why the exhaust was popping at idle too today, but that's different. That has to do with my weak knowledge of Weber carbs.

If at first you don't succeed. Build, build again.
Vehicle: 1975 Special order delivery walkthrough panel based LCA pop-top camper. Motor: Nippon 1.8L Single port Wasserboxer, Transmission: 3 rib 002.