Date:         Sat, 20 Apr 2002 19:13:00 -1000
Reply-To:     Daniel Danrich <danrich@CCMAUI.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Daniel Danrich <danrich@CCMAUI.NET>
Subject:      Answer to "No Low Beams"  thanks guys!
In-Reply-To:  <200204210412.g3L4Cka1048190@ranger.ccmaui.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I got 2 great answers on my "No Low Beams"
THANKS GUYS for all the help!

> I can't get the low or hi beams to stay on.
> The only way I can get my lights to work is to hold the bright light
> switch
> back.
> And I can't get the low beams to come on independently now.
> I changed out the entire turn signal bright light assembly with no
> luck.
> What do I do?
> Thanks people!

Daniel,
     The problem that you have can be two items - but normally the first
one most of the time.  The light system goes through the ignition switch.
 That's why when you leave the lights on and then turn off the key, only
the parking lights stay on, and the headlights go out.  I have had this
same problem before and it was a fried ignition switch.  They are plastic
and can and will fail sometime in its life.  You can purchase one from
Auto Zone for around $21.00.  It is a little bit of a pain in the ***T to
replace, but do-able.  The second one would be the dimmer system lever,
but since you can get the bright to come on when you pull it, then that
will not be the problem.  Or the light switch itself, but most of the
time they work pretty well.  Here is a quick simple why to trouble shoot
it.  Purchase a new ignition switch, remove the lower steering column
cover, unplug the big wire harness connector on the back side of the
ignition switch.  Install the new switch on the end of the connector,
take a screw driver and turn it like the ignition key would and now try
your lights.  It will probably work now and it so - time to remove the
steering wheel, bearing, column assemble and slide it off the column.
Now you can gain access to the switch.  One little screw that has to be
removed before it will slide out.  Hope this helps and a Bentley VW
manual will help with the procedure.  Take care and good luck.  Cliff
Gottschalk


> Daniel,
> If you check the Vanagon archives, you'll find the thread that matches
> your symptoms exactly, and find that you need a new ignition switch!
> Check it out, and try not to have too many keys or other heavy items on
> your key chain, as it wears out the switch pre-maturely. Hope this helps,
>
> Doug
> '90 GL