Inner spotlights not working 1983 watercooled t3

[murrayslinn]

Hi,

Having pulled the dash out and grills off the front to give everything a good cleanout and treat some rust i took the opertunity to replace some very well rusted and not working spotlights (the ones mounted within the grill next to the main ones)

Cleaned up all the points and made sure all the earths are solid including all the crowns etc in the fuse box.....still nothing.

How are these lights meant to work in conjunction with the headlights? are they wired through the same switch and come on on high beam or seperate? I have a light switch on the right hand side of the dash that seems to do nothing (except the small yellow led lights up on the switch) is that something to do with it?

[bigherb]

They are not an original fitting, depends how whoever fitted them wired them up. Normally wired through a relay to operate when on main beam.

[R0B]

Are you talking about the inner square lights? If so these are your main beam lights.

[murrayslinn]

No, their round ones. there is a relay mounted next to the lights which seems to look fairly new and in good nic, not really sure how to tell if a relay is knackered but the fuse there is fine. I have a similar problem with the temp gauge not working and have tried all the normal things (earths, thermo switch etc) and cant get that working. maybe there is a common fault or short somewhere? cant make sence of it.

[bigherb]

The only real way is to trace the wiring from the lights to see if they go to the relay and then where the wires from the relay go.

[murrayslinn]

Ok , will do. And i can assume that these inner lights are for high beam.
Thanks for all your comments

[bigherb]

Most of them are but you could get fog lamp versions. Put a picture up as there are different manufactures and VWSA who made the kits.

[R0B]

This is a South African grill.Is yours like this?

[murrayslinn]

That's exactly the one. Tried to put a pic up but haven't worked out how to do it yet. Closer inspection it seems the power for these lights is sourced directly from the battery. While I have the dash out I might try and tidy it up with a desperate fuse box.

Have only had this van for a couple of months and trying to start at one end and work my way back. It's in pretty good nic but I'd like to get to know her properly! There's a few little bugs that need sourcing. All part of the fun eh!

[murrayslinn]

Found it, one knackered terminal inside the inline fuse box! No wonder the fuse wasn't blown. Thanks all for your quick responses.

[murrayslinn]

One other thing, All lights are now working fine but the positive feed for the extra lights comes all the way from the battery and is just clipped onto the terminal itself. Is there any reason it cant be fed from the main fuse box like everything else?

Have my van in bits, very interesting learning curve!

Thanks again

[bigherb]

No just take the feed from one of the spare terminal where the thick red wires are.

[murrayslinn]

Brilliant, thanks very much