Date:         Mon, 26 Oct 1998 19:48:47 EST
Reply-To:     DAPrescott@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         DAPrescott@AOL.COM
Subject:      old beetle elec problem (longish)
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Volks --
I got a beetle a few weeks ago -- a daily driver to preserve the Westy -- and
this weekend was playing with the radio, as it didn't work (power, cassette
ok, no radio) Fixed the tuning problem, reinstalled the radio.  No power.  Not
just the radio, the whole car.  Pulled everything back out, found two wires
off the back of the light switch, put them back on.  OK, car starts now, but
still no radio.  Drove it around, got dark, turned on headlights.  No
headlights.  Parking lights, turn signals OK.
Here's weird part: Interior light won't come on unless I pull the switch
halfway out, to turn on parking lights.  When I pull it all the way out, dash
(Speedo) light goes out, interior light out, parking lights out, no
headlights.
I've replaced all fuses (that I'm aware of) and have double and triple checked
for loose or disconnected wires.
 I seem to remember a similar (maybe identical) problem in the 70's with my
folks' 68, but I can't for the life of me remember how it was fixed.
Can anyone shed a little light? (admittedly weak pun intended.  sorry)
TIA
Doug
84 Westy, 77K
84 Vanagon GL, 178 K, parts car
98 Passat 6K, wife's car
68 Beetle, 91K