Lights are doing my head in !

[blue67]

I am a bit new to all this. I have done a search and not really found the answers, If these questions have been asked before i apologise in advance.

Here goes:

My headlights dont work, my side lights work and the main beam flash works, but no dipped or main. I have found that there is no live to the bulbs, there seams to be no live at the headlight switch (black/yellow wire), i am not sure which fuse(s) feed this circuit but i would gues there is no live there either(all the fuses have been replaced and terminals cleaned) i am not really sure where else to check, does this circuit go through the igniton switch? how do i check this? is there a relay for the head lights? not sure where that is? Also my rear fogs dont seam to work, could this be related? or my horn or my heater are these related?

Any help or usefull pointers would be greatly appreiciated, i am pulling the little bit of hair i have left out with frustration in my inability to solve these daft little problems!

Nearly forgot, its a 1984 1.6d panal van

[Ian Hulley]

Seeing as no electrical boffins are answering ....

The foglight only works with the headlights on, it has a 2 stage switch ... first click for fronts (where fitted) and then the 2nd click for the rear as well. The headlights have a relay (JK 10161 ... 'all models') and are of course fused, I don't have a Haynes here but do have an old JK catalogue.

The headlights (on the later ones) have a dim dip system where if you switch the engine off they stay on but at a dimmer state, I don't think the early ones have this but you'll still need the engine running to have the headlights on.

Hope this helps.

Ian.

[Gunslinger]

Had a similar problem last week, no dip beam but had side lights and high beam. Only difference in fault was that I could find a live to the headlight switch. I suspect you have live to switch otherwise I wouldnt have thought side lights wouldnt come on but you maybe dont have a live coming out of the switch to the dip headlights.
I replaced the switch which was £16 from VW dealer, off the shelf, surprisingly, and this cured the fault on mine.

[Grun]

I've been looking at the Haynes wiring diagrams, which are a bit of a compromise.

Looks to me as if the terminal marked X on your igniton switch would be a good place to start. This terminal should be live with ignition switched on. It feeds the terminal marked X on the lighting switch via the black yellow wire, and from there the dip/main beam contacts in the stalk switch, when the lighting switch is in the headlamp position. If you can get your headlamps working, the fogs will probably work too.
The horn and the heater fan may well be connected through the X Relay which is supplied from the same contact on the ignition switch.
Suspect you may need a new ignition switch, if it is not just a poor external connection.

Mike

[bigherb]

Yep as grun says you need a new ignition switch.

[blue67]

Suspect you may need a new ignition switch, .

That is precisely what i was thinking!! any one got any idea how to replace it? do i need to strip the steering wheel, wiper stalk, indicator stalk and steering lock of!

Where is the head light relay found?

So i need my engine running to have headlights on?

Thanx for your help so far.

[Gadders]

Yep as grun says you need a new ignition switch.

I'll second that motion.Same symptoms that I had with mine last year,
new switch sorted the problem...

That is precisely what i was thinking!! any one got any idea how to replace it? do i need to strip the steering wheel, wiper stalk, indicator stalk

Yep...

[blue67]

Yep...

BUGGER!

How difficult is that then, got a switch on its way to me, just need to know how big the can of worms is - so to speek!

[Gadders]

Courtesy of 'Red Westie'

....steering wheel off, plastic couling removed, three screws for indicator and wiper stalk removal, two shear bolts that hold the upper steering column (you may need to tap these around if it still has the original shear bolts) remove pinch bolt then withdraw the alluminium ignition housing (you need to have the key inserted and turned...think to position 1)
All this to get to a single pozi retaining screw (actually not that much work really)
Forgive me if I forgot anything...
Note* make sure your steering wheel in dead straight when removing otherwise when it comes to re-assembly the wheel will end up squiffy..

The search facility is your 'friend'.

[blue67]

Cool, i have my switch and i will have a play later, let you know jow i get on!