Front lights not working

[Space_Monkey]

My van has a front grille with 4 square-shaped lights ( and disappointingly no VW insignia).

The two outer headlights work fine (if a little dimly by modern standards) but the two inner lights stubbornly refuse to work. I eventually found the cunningly hidden fuse box but everything was fine there). The bulbs appear to be ok as well but I suppose I could try replacing them tomorrow. I tried the light switch in different settings with and without the ignition turned on.

Am I missing something obvious ? (apart from some functioning braincells of course)

Also is there anywhere I could get some decent VW stickers/decals to place on the front of the van? I think replacing the whole grille is going a bit too far.

Cheers

[kevtherev]

OK how have you tried to make them work?
Like where was the rear fog switch position?

[Space_Monkey]

Blimey that was a quick response!!

I tried the foglight switch in both of its "on" settings

[kevtherev]

middle or first click is front driving lamps second is both rear and front.... head lights on
is there not another switch for the front driving lamps above the three position one on your dash binnacle?

[Space_Monkey]

The only thing above the headlight switch is the light that shows the hanbrake is engaged.
Above the foglight switch is (a very slow to reeact) hazard warning switch. Above that is a switch-shaped hole.

[kevtherev]

ah hah
OK, I have a separate switch for when the rear fog is on, where your hole is, so I can turn off the fronts.
So if your sure there is no other switch for the front?
then it must be either the switch the front fog fuse or the relay or the wiring/connections

and most commonly an earth fault

have you a multimeter to check for power?

[Space_Monkey]

Thanks for your help.

I will dig the multimeter out tomorrow and have a look after work.

[BALDY3260]

i assume that you are talking about the main beam lights ? have you tried the headlamp flasher to see if they work? ie does your main beam come on when operated?

[andisnewsyncro]

My Guess;
A previous owner has fitted a square lamp grill and not wired the driving lights in? Inners should come on with the hight beam switch once the ignition is on. To cure the dim headlamps look in the wiki for the relay mod, works wonders. Then have a look for the info about wiring up the inner/driving lights. I t should all become clear.
Failing that I'm coming to Nottingham tomorrow (probably in the van) if you want to see how my lights are wired
Good luck

[ermie571]

As above...the inners nowt to do with fogs.
They come on with the main light switch when you put the lights on full beam.

Em
x

[andisnewsyncro]

As above...the inners nowt to do with fogs.
They come on with the main light switch when you put the lights on full beam.

Em
x

link with front fog lights is that you're not legally allowed to have them on with high beam. Mine are wired so that I either have main beam (all four) or if front fogs switched on, they only come on on dipped main beam, so I see what Kev means; if fogs on then the middle pair shouldn't light... Worth checking all switch positions, again mains (and certainly fogs) will probably only work with ignition on, depending on the competency of whoever wired it all up

[ermie571]

ahhh I see....I haven't got factory front fogs....sorry to add the confusion.

There are some lights fixed to the bumper....but they are less likely to work in that they aren't wired in!! The ultimate energy saving lamp....even saving me the energy of flicking a switch!

Em
x

[andisnewsyncro]

When you get them wired in Em, just make sure they don't come on with main beam (depending on lens markings of course !!)

It's a common mistake but the beam patterns are different between auxilliary lights; front fogs & driving/spot lights have a different lens and that determines how they can be legally wired in, just don't tell your local chavs