Club 80-90 Forums

Hi. I'm new here. I've got a 1983 watercooled and had a little bit of trouble when leaving vanfest last week...typical. Just as I left the gates and the source of all spare parts and know-how my dashboard starting emitting smoke. It's the switch for the headlights which was smoking so I quickly pulled it out before it went up in smoke. I've replaced the switch but it did it again at the weekend so didn't know if anyone had any experience of this or advice, cheers, Paul

positive wire earthing some where? maybe find which wire is live with a tester, disconect the battery + and - then do a continuity test between the live wire and earth, if there is continuity then bare wire is touching metal somewhere. Fuse should have blown though so check them too, may have wrong rated (too high) fuse in there (glove box)

Cheers Bob, that sounds likely. Didn't know if there was a recognised problem with that switch, or whether it is just a general wiring type problem, but will explore the latter as you suggest, Paul

Check all the wiring junctions, spade-terminals etc. and give them a good clean.

I had a slightly corroded connection behind my fusebox that caused enough resistance to get very hot and start melting the insulation on the wires attached!

Is the smoke actually coming from the switch unit itself, or somewhere near?