Help!! Electrical problem!!!!

jacky_moo Seriously Crusin Dubber

115 posts · joined Feb 2010 · 12 Feb 2010, 8:02 am

#762246

Hey guys, having an issue with the bug
For those who have not seen it its a 74' L convertible

Last night we had some torrential rain and i had to drive home in it (with the roof on) and halfway home the indicators stopped working.. not just one side but both
and also the headlights are very tempermental... they will both sometimes work or sometimes only one then the other like its winking at me..

i still have brake lights, and still have my hazard lights but no turning indicators.. also no high beam

Anyone have any ideas? Until this is sorted the bug is being grounded 🙁

and just fyi it was only in the rain for about 10minutes its garaged at home and at work

thanks!!

schnell!! schnell!! schnell!! schnell!!

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 12 Feb 2010, 8:26 am

#762252

have a look under neath the steering column at the black plastic plugs.

it sounds like the turn signal one has got wet and/or corroded terminals abit

it controls the indicators and highbeams but not the hazards which explains your symptoms

Lbugs are notorious for rusting out in the fresh air fan box which is just above that so all the water off the windscreen drowns the electricals around the steering column and fusebox

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jacky_moo Seriously Crusin Dubber

115 posts · joined Feb 2010 · 12 Feb 2010, 8:52 am

#762260

Thanks Joel! I am currently trying to pull everything apart in there because the previous mechanic that worked on the car has made a right mess of the wiring... you wouldnt happen to have a diagram for the fuse box? ie what fuse does what?

p.s your hazard button is totally different from mine! isnt that one from a kombi?

schnell!! schnell!! schnell!! schnell!!

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,785 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 12 Feb 2010, 9:02 am

#762262

also look where the fuses are

Behind the fuses are the lights and indicator relays

Dehind them is the drain pipe from the air box in front of your screen

I reckon the pipe is cracked or knocked and leaking on the relays

Futue te ipsum!!!

silver Dangerous when poked

2,169 posts · joined Dec 2002 · 12 Feb 2010, 9:04 am

#762263

here you go

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Keeping it real !

jacky_moo Seriously Crusin Dubber

115 posts · joined Feb 2010 · 12 Feb 2010, 9:45 am

#762269

Thanks guys!
Ok progress...

The black connector that joel mentioned was the problem one of the wires had come out so popped it back in and the indicators work...

the highbeam is another story.. the lil blue light in the clocks wont come on anymore even though the relay and the lights flick onto high beam..

that and now when the headlights are on the drivers side indicator is on all the time and if you turn it on while the head light is on the green arrow in the dash lights up very dimly and does not flash.... (front and back lights up very dim on low beam and brighter on high beam)

i suppose its a start i have working indicators again!! ... just cant use the drivers side one at night

schnell!! schnell!! schnell!! schnell!!

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 12 Feb 2010, 11:39 am

#762288

jacky_moo wrote:Thanks Joel! I am currently trying to pull everything apart in there because the previous mechanic that worked on the car has made a right mess of the wiring... you wouldnt happen to have a diagram for the fuse box? ie what fuse does what?

p.s your hazard button is totally different from mine! isnt that one from a kombi?

its a flat screen beetle one
it originally had a rocker style next to the radio like yours but that areas now all taken up with gauges so i had to relocate it

sounds like you might have some wires chaffed toghether in the loom that runs to the headlights and front indicator

do you have a multimeter?

jacky_moo Seriously Crusin Dubber

115 posts · joined Feb 2010 · 12 Feb 2010, 12:00 pm

#762292

yeah have a multimeter.. i thought i may have buggered something up when i pulled out the headlights ie reconnected a city-light wire wrong

on the downside again i have indicators but the headlight switch just blew so i have no headlights at all now... i swear this car is possessed

[edit]
Pulled the headlight switch apart to find the small arm that acts as the rheostat had burnt out... so im thinking a wire has come loose somewhere in the dash relating to the right hand indicator and dash illumination

schnell!! schnell!! schnell!! schnell!!