Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2012 00:28:51 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Need Help with Headlights
In-Reply-To: <EAD86E93-6487-4007-B4EF-B2856EDD97FB@mac.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
The high beam indicator remaining on with either the hi or low beams
selected with no light output indicates a ground problem. It is hard for
anyone to give more details due to us not knowing how the relays and lamps
are actually wired. There are so many possible variations. Time for you to
learn to use a meter and read wiring diagrams. For all of those that want to
do their own electrical work learn Ohm's and Kirchhoff's laws and there soon
won't be a DC circuit you can't handle.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Robert Stewart
Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2012 6:56 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Need Help with Headlights
Need Help Please
1988 Vanagon GL, Rebuilt Engine w 6,000 miles on it. SA Grill Kit, Upgraded
Relay Kit.
A couple of weeks ago my high beams went out. It was a broken wire on my
upgraded relay. I fixed it and The lights worked for 2 weeks then all the
lights went out. I have no lights, no brights, no low beam, nothing. The
high beam indicator is on no matter if you pull the stalk back or not.
Nothing at all. Pulling the stalk back does not activate the lights. I did
not smell anything burning, nothing popped or made any kind of sound.
I checked the following:
Fuses All good
Power Going from the Stalk on the TOP & Middle Connectors of the turn signal
unit. I also get a power signal on the left side of the stalk connector.
Relays activate when you pull the stalk back, you can feel a little click.
Grounds were cleaned with sandpaper. Then, I swapped the ground with the
ground from my Working Hella Fog lamps and it still did not work.
I replaced the ignition switch as well.
The headlight switch is only 1 yr old. I even swapped it with my old one
which also works fine and nothing changed.
The SA Grill and lights are 2 yrs old. I only drive the van for short
distances so the lights and the van are hardly used. Just local driving.
The turn signal worked fine when the lights are off but since this recent
issue the turn signal when signaling to the right just causes the turn
signal light to stay on, no flashing or anything on any of the right side
lights. If you turn off the main headlight switch the turn signals all work
just fine. - Strange.
What am I missing here?
Is it possible that my stalk is having problems? or the connectors under the
horn?
I never had issues with the lights ever till now.
Any help would be appreciated.
Side note: I had a mechanic friend of mine wire the low beams to be grounded
directly from the headlight wiring at the bulbs, it worked on both bulbs for
a week then the driver's side light stopped working. I checked the bulb and
it looked perfect, the ground was still intact. Very strange indeed.
Thanks for any advice,
Robert
Bloomingburg NY
