Had Flash problem..Still have flash problem and oh B******ks

[Cali_bay]

Please can anyone help with a Headlight flash problem. :?

Just found that I can't flash my high beam, it use to work but not sure when it stopped.

Basically I have tested it with the dip beam on. Pull the lever and the relay clicks and high beam comes on. with the ignition still on and the lights off I pull the lever and get no click and no high beam flash :? :? .

I have checked the wiring diagram in the Bentley manual and there appears not to be any separate wires for this function, so not sure what to do next.

Any help welcomed.

 

[VWAIRCOOLED]

I'm not 100 % ,but on my 1970 Dormy and my old 1971 earlybay there is no headlight flash.I'll have to have a look in the owners manual to be sure if there should be the facility for it.

 

[VWAIRCOOLED]

I just checked in my owners manual.The main beam should flash when the lights are switched off or just the sidelights are on.But my manual is dated august 1970 and my Dormy was made before this was printed so could be wrong for my model,I bought the manual myself.So I've now got another job added to the list too to sort out maybe.When I have a look at mine I'll let you know what I find.

Looking at the wiring diagrams,some earlybays have 4 wires going to the relay and some have 5 wires.The ones with 5 wires I suspect have the extra wire giving a live to the relay to give a flash facility.This is a red wire,so check the feed from the fusebox for that and check the relay itself.The other 4 wires for the relay must be ok if the high beam and low beam works ok.

 

[Cali_bay]

Thanks for the reply.

I have checked and replaced a couple of the fuses that looked a bit suspect, but still no joy.

To get to the relay, you have to take the fuse box out as according to my manual as they are mounted behind. I am going away in it this weekend so this will have to wait, just in case I mess something else up in the process.

Let me know if you find out any more info.

 

[Dylan F]

Hi,

Mine flash even with the ignition off. I had issues with mine and I seem to recall putting a link wire in the fuse box but don't remember if that was for the dip beam. If you get stuck let me know and i'll pull the fuse box out for a Photo.

Dylan

 

[dave]

I have a vw drivers manual i got with my 69, i have no flash so thought that i would look in it and found that the manual does not mention anything about flashing headlamps, but does cover the obvious full beam, dip beam and side lights. so i came to the conclusion that they were not equiped to flash!

 

[Cali_bay]

Hi,

Mine flash even with the ignition off. I had issues with mine and I seem to recall putting a link wire in the fuse box but don't remember if that was for the dip beam. If you get stuck let me know and i'll pull the fuse box out for a Photo.

Dylan

Would be good to see a picture thanks. I am sure mine used to flash and all the buses I passed this weekend flashed us. The position of the relay changed in 70 to be mounted behind the fuse box, so maybe thats when they introduced this function?

 

[Dylan F]

I'll get out there with the camera tomorrow and get the pic posted for you.

 

[Dylan F]

I've photographed the rear of the fusebox for you but can't get the picture to upload onto this reply. If you pm your email I'll send it over that way.

I've got a link wire running from terminal 56a on the relay running to the 7th terminal on the rear of the fuse box (counting left to right, viewed from the rear)
When i disconnect it my flash stops working,

hope this helps

Dylan

 

[Cali_bay]

I've photographed the rear of the fusebox for you but can't get the picture to upload onto this reply. If you pm your email I'll send it over that way.

I've got a link wire running from terminal 56a on the relay running to the 7th terminal on the rear of the fuse box (counting left to right, viewed from the rear)
When i disconnect it my flash stops working,

hope this helps

Dylan

Thanks Dylan. Have sent you a PM.

 

[67panel]

if i remember corectly there is an ignition feed to the light switch which feeds headlamp relay when headlamps turned off,look in haynes early manual wiring diagram

 

[VWAIRCOOLED]

if i remember corectly there is an ignition feed to the light switch which feeds headlamp relay when headlamps turned off,look in haynes early manual wiring diagram

I think you're right,it's the red wire which I mentioned earlier.If you have 4 wires going to the headllight relay you won't have a flash,if you have 5 wires you will.I suppose you could modify the 4 wire to a 5 wire if you wanted to.

I was fiddling around with my fuse box the other day,I was going to lift it out and check it.Then I got distracted by something and left it.Now since then my flash works.So checkinfg you fusebox connection ann relay seems to be the answer.I'll sort mine out properly later on.

 

[Cali_bay]

Thanks for the replies, i'm going to check it out this weekend.

Cheers for the picture Dylan, I assume its the brown link wire, right?

 

[Cali_bay]

Looked at my electrical problem today and found a couple of loose connections, but did not sort flash problem.

Then it got worse. :?

Checked the lights still worked then clipped the fuse box back in ready to put the bus away and got a nasty smell followed by smoke from the dash. Quickly switched off the ignition and disconnected the battery and got the extinguisher in hand.

I waited and the smoke cleared, took out the instruments and unclipped the fuse box again. I think that a connector had slipped off when I reinserted it and connected with a ground. Further investigations I found melted ground wires going to various parts. Now I’m wishing I hadn’t started looking at it. What with Vanfest in two weeks time. :sad0049:


Going over the wires I think that it is just the ground wires that took the brunt, so need to rewire these.

It looks like the relay has 5 pins but one is not connected to anything and looking at the US wiring diagram this is all there should be, so maybe after all that it did not have a flash (US spec?).

So now I have to get some more wire and then double check all the other wires for damage. Wish I had left it alone.

 

[dave]

Whilst on the samba, found a section on users manuals, people have scanned theres in, there is one for a 71 bus, had a look at it and found dip / beam switch but it says nothing about being able to flash, so you may find that there never was a flash position fitted from new, obviously this does not mean it can not be done.
Hope that you get wiring sorted ok.

 

[VWAIRCOOLED]

I hope you get it sorted dude.The connectors on these can get real loose,they are getting on a bit now.But take your time and check all the wires are connected to where they should be and do any repairs needed before reconnecting the battery.

 

[Cali_bay]

Whilst on the samba, found a section on users manuals, people have scanned theres in, there is one for a 71 bus, had a look at it and found dip / beam switch but it says nothing about being able to flash, so you may find that there never was a flash position fitted from new, obviously this does not mean it can not be done.



Hope that you get wiring sorted ok.

Cheers dave, I think I'll live without it, just hope I can fix the mess, so I can go to Vanfest in the bus and not the Honda.

I hope you get it sorted dude.The connectors on these can get real loose,they are getting on a bit now.But take your time and check all the wires are connected to where they should be and do any repairs needed before reconnecting the battery.

Thanks, will double check all the wires. On the bright side, now I have the pod out I can replace the instrument bulbs. Or maybe I should just leave them alone :roll:

 

[Dylan F]

Si,

The white wire is the link one. I put some masking tape on it to help you see..

hope you get it sorted,

Dylan