Date:         Sat, 29 Jul 2017 12:34:00 -0700
Reply-To:     Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Note RE: Repair to 1980 - 84 Failed Dash Light Dimmer
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

Hi all.

I really doubt many folks would do this. Most would buy a new
headlight switch. Regardless, I figured I should mention this.

As far as I know, for 1980 - 84 Vanagons (in North America anyway), if
you've repaired a failed headlight switch dimmer rheostat by
connecting 58 to 58b to enable dash lights to come on....

Fuse the 58b dash light circuit !!

On my 1981 Vanagon Westfalia the dimmer rheostat wire wind on my
headlight switch failed completely due to a short to ground in the 58b
dash light circuit. I bypassed the dimmer section of the headlight
switch by soldering in a #14 copper wire between 58 and 58b inside the
switch.

Image of failed rheostat wire wind:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1673666.jpg

Image of bypass enabling dash lights to come an as normal but without
the dimming feature:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1673669.jpg

Not shown: I applied a little "Goop" adhesive to that #14 wire in the
event that heat caused the solder joints to fail. That is HIGHLY
unlikely; the 58b circuit doesn't carry that much current.

Owners tend to do their own work. Even just installing a stereo could
dislodge the positive wire from the light at cigarette lighter socket.
Or, inadvertently pull the bulb holder at the fresh air control lever
light (which has exposed terminals) or pull off the positive wire
itself. After that, the wire then dangles leaving the potential for it
to short to ground at the dash metal. (this really can happen). In
that case, it's the dimmer rheostat that most likely becomes the
"fuse". Without that dimmer, but with 58 connected to 58b, the dash
light circuit wires become the "fuse". As far as I can see, in Bentley
diagrams, starting in 1985 that circuit is fused.

Neil.

--
Neil n

Blog: Vanagons, Westfalia, general <http://tubaneil.blogspot.ca>

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