Date:         Tue, 3 Jan 2012 22:16:25 -0500
Reply-To:     Robert Stewart <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Stewart <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Need Help with Headlights
Comments: To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>,
          Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <EAD86E93-6487-4007-B4EF-B2856EDD97FB@mac.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; CHARSET=US-ASCII

> Need Help Please
> 1988 Vanagon GL, Rebuilt Engine w 6,000 miles on it. SA Grill Kit, Upgraded Relay Kit.
>
> A couple of weeks ago my high beams went out. It was a broken wire on my upgraded relay. I fixed it and The lights worked for 2 weeks then all the lights went out. I have no lights, no brights, no low beam, nothing. The high beam indicator is on no matter if you pull the stalk back or not. Nothing at all. Pulling the stalk back does not activate the lights. I did not smell anything burning, nothing popped or made any kind of sound.
>
> I checked the following:
>
> Fuses All good
>
> Power Going from the Stalk on the TOP & Middle Connectors of the turn signal unit. I also get a power signal on the left side of the stalk connector.
>
> Relays activate when you pull the stalk back, you can feel a little click.
>
> Grounds were cleaned with sandpaper. Then, I swapped the ground with the ground from my Working Hella Fog lamps and it still did not work.
>
> I replaced the ignition switch as well.
>
> The headlight switch is only 1 yr old. I even swapped it with my old one which also works fine and nothing changed.
>
> The SA Grill and lights are 2 yrs old. I only drive the van for short distances so the lights and the van are hardly used. Just local driving.
>
> The turn signal worked fine when the lights are off but since this recent issue the turn signal when signaling to the right just causes the turn signal light to stay on, no flashing or anything on any of the right side lights. If you turn off the main headlight switch the turn signals all work just fine.  - Strange.
>
> What am I missing here?
>
> Is it possible that my stalk is having problems? or the connectors under the horn?
>
> I never had issues with the lights ever till now.
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Side note: I had a mechanic friend of mine wire the low beams to be grounded directly from the headlight wiring at the bulbs, it worked on both bulbs for a week then the drivers side light stopped working. I checked the bulb and it looked perfect, the ground was still intact. Very strange indeed.
>
> Thanks for any advice,
> Robert
> Bloomingburg NY
>
>