Hi
I have a 73 Type3
With the head lights on the fifth fuse from the right side of the fuse box gets really hot and when I put the brakes on the Generator light comes on a
bit and that fuse gets hotter it seems to be the main power to the fuse box
anyone have any ideas and/or a good but not to expense sparky in brisvagus
tanks heaps
marc
:cry
:cry
:cry
[Edited on 19-2-04 by Midlife crisis]
just an idea....
put in a higher rated fuse. should cut down on the heat, sounds like it's a tad overloaded (should get hotter when you put the brakes on, as then
the brake lights come on). do you have aftermarket lights attached to the same posi on the fuse block? if you're feeling anal, add up the power
sources draining thru that fuse, and see what rating it SHOULD be. and maybe it's time for an alternator conversion, if you're getting the
gen. light. or pull the gennie and clean up the commutator and brushes with some fine wet n dry paper.
Do NOT put in a larger fuse!.
All fuses except 1 or 2 of them are 8 amps and should be fine. If your cooking it is beacause of a reason
What does the fuse do??
Do you have a wiring diagram???
Take the fuse out - what happens???
Try cleaning up the terminals with steel wool and put in fresh fuses. Sometimes the fuse ends dont make good and need a little bend to help them again
Yes,
clean your fusebox till it shines with a wire brush... bend the fuse holders in slightly so You have good tension on the fuse itself... Put in a 16
ampere fuse... thats all I have ever used in VWs....
I don't believe there IS an alternator suitable for a type 3 engine changeover....
The major causes of problems with old Vws are dirty electrical connections.... ALL
connections should be clean & shiny....
The headlamp fuses in aircooled VWs are usually seperate for Left & Right headlamps...
Make sure the headlamp bulbs are only 60/55 watts and NOT 100/90 watts....
See if that fixes the problem....
Your Generator and/or voltage regulator
may need attention....
Lee
I'm no auto electrician, but I think blue74l's advice not to put in larger fuses (despite later contrary comment in this thread) is *very*
sound advice.
The circuits which use 8 amp fuses were designed to use 8 amp fuses; using higher rating fuses (such as 16 amp) may just move the problem elsewhere;
this is especially true since you already have a problem/short/leak occurring somewhere in your wiring loom.
Oh, btw, you *do* have a fire extinguisher in the Type 3, don't you?
hth
unless there is a higher than standard load on the circuit.... got spotties fitted? a huge stereo on the same fuse? runnig a car fridge and welding
device and toaster and microwave and blast furnace off that fuse 
Thanks guys for your advice
first there is nothing extra on the fuse box at all stock. ill go and get all new fuses and clean and tension all fuses.
Checked again and it is the fuse where the main power form the battery/ regulator goes into the fuse box . I have changed the reg a couple a weeks ago
because of the light coming on but still the same.Will see what happens after cleaning
thanks again will report findings
Marc
the advice to not go to a bigger fuse is the correct decision - i am a sparky. if you have a hot fuse then it sounds like you are drawing too much current for various reasons. putting a bigger fuse in will only lead to further problems at a later date. i would check what is actually on the fuse and check all of the terminals and connections in that part of the electrical system. There could be a shitty connection or even a partial short in the system - this would cause excess current flow but not prevent all the lights etc working. Fuses are there to protect the wiring of the system not to protect the equipment on the circuit.
It takes a tiny (?) amount of current to blow an 8 ampere fuse, and not much more to blow a 16 ampere fuse... I have usually found that it takes a
short circuit to actually melt any wires.... the fuse IS the weak link in the circuit... apart from that....
Your Generator may need some servicing.
Usually on VWs, the main wire goes to a double connection on the fuse box..
Are both fuses getting hot?? I don't have a type 3 manual any longer.
One thing I usually do when working on electrical problems on VWs is to rotate the fuses in their holders, as sometimes there may be a bad connection
(some resistance) between the end of the fuse and the holder.. if there is, and the holder gets heated, the copper holder loses some of its tension
and makes the contact worse still....
I have rewired My beetle using 5 mm pvc cables and all connections are soldered.
I also used 2 x 10mm cables from the battery to the dash. (with circuit breakers)
and from the Alternator to the Battery..
Probably an over kill, considering the wiring sizes used in late model cars...
I also have used extra relays for the horn, plus air horns, electric fuel pump,
headlamps, wipers, driving-fog lamps & naturally from the ignition switch to the starter motor.. that relay being located above the starter motor.
Lee
Has we got the car as a partly rebuilt I not sure if the fuses are in the right places an anyone tell me which ones in the fuse bx should have 16 amp
fuses
as te wiring disgram does not say which is which
thanks marc
surely the main power one should be a 16...
you are running a stove and hot water service off it right..?
Wiring diagrams and fuse blocks at:
http://www.vintagebus.com/wiring/index.html
hth
Not only stove and hot water you forgot the jacuzzi :P
| Quote: |
If your running a standard fuse box and wiring
White fuses are 8 amp and should be only 6 in your fuse box. these are for park, low and high beams 1 fuses for left park low n high beams and one
fuses for each for right park low n high beams.
grey wires are parkers, yellow are low beam and white are high beams
All the others should be red fuses which are 16 amp
If you dont have it this way then somethings else is wrong.
Hi
thanks everyone for thier help.
I have cleaned all the contacts I have checked the fittings on the fuse box and replace all the fuses. Replaced the headlight relay. Checked the
fittings at the headlights and number plate light.All the spare headlight switches I ave are different to te one in the car.
So now it is of to the auto electricans tomorrow
Again thanks for all your help. I wll post the results when I get hme from the electricans
Marc
Hi
I took it back to the sparky who did the wireing the first time to get it rego will after he played with it for 2 hours and pulling out his hair (
not much left now) with all fuses showing a max of 6 amp drain he checked the wireing diagram and guess what he had the two main power wires going
into the fuse box around the wrong way so switched them around and whoo all nice and cool. So with a sheepish I'm sorry and no charge we drove of
all happy
Marc
[Edited on 19-2-04 by Midlife crisis]
thats good, So did you check your light fuses are they the white ones only and there should be 6 only all the rest should be red fuses or 16amp
Sure did thanks
lights are white
thanks again for your help
If Valla on we may meet up there
Marc
No problems
I will be the one at the Beer Tent Veranda room 25 n 26.
Kool you will know me Klub VW shirt and I will either be in my wheel chair or if ok after driving down on my cutches
see you there
we are stayng in a cabin at the park
Marc