Date:         Fri, 28 Oct 2005 17:57:09 -0400
Reply-To:     Richard Golen <rgolen@UMASSD.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Richard Golen <rgolen@UMASSD.EDU>
Subject:      Headlight Problem Solved....New Syndrome Discovered!!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Greetings!

Earlier today I emailed this august list to see if someone could
figure out why my headlights weren't working even though I had a high
beam indicator, etc. There seemed to be a concensus that the problem
was probably with the headlight switch or the voltage reducing relay.

So I checked the relay...it worked. Took out a test light and found
that the headlight switch was sending power to the high beam switch
on the turn signal stalk. So I tested the lead going in to the high
beam switch and had power...but also found that BOTH the leads going
out to the high and low beams also had power...yet no lights were on.

I disconnected the plug from the high beam switch, and ran a separate
jump cable to power the switch. Flicked the switch between "high" and
"low" beams, and the switch worked perfectly. Put the plug back on,
and again, both high and low beams had power, but the lights did not
function....GRRRRR!!!

Next I popped off the grille and removed the headlight units...and
then disconnected each light one at a time. No change...no
lights...only a high beam indicator light on the dash.

I removed the final headlight and the indicator light went out.
Flicked the high beam switch and high beam light came on...flicked it
again, and it went out. Strange...

So I checked the bulbs and all were fine. Just for the hell of it I
ran a small jump lead from one of the headlight ground wires to the
bumper. BAM!! The lights went on! High beam worked...low beam
worked...headlight flasher worked.

It would appear that a bad ground caused "feedback" from high beam to
the low beam circuit lighting up nothing more than the high beam
indicator light. I put in a secondary ground into the headlight
circuit and VOILA!! Light!!!

So chalk this one up to the list of things to check if your
headlights mysteriously stop working...check the ground!


Ric