• From: Westminster, Colorado
  • Registered: 2005-09-25
  • Posts: 22

Topic: Left tail light hot all the time, nothing on right, no front turn sign

We're putting finishing touches on my daughter's 74 Super Beetle after pan-off resto and I've got some wiring problems.  We didn't pull out the wiring harness or dash and left all that wiring in place.

the left tail light wire is hot all the time - key off.
we've got othing on the right tail light and no front turn signals or running lights,
but all the other lights (brake, rear turn signals, and backup) work fine.

can a bad headlight switch be our problem? other ideas

  • From: City of Roses
  • Registered: 2004-03-29
  • Posts: 793

Re: Left tail light hot all the time, nothing on right, no front turn sign

Hiya TRC,

When one runs into "selective" (here, but not there kinda thing) electrical problems after having the wiring disconnected from its "appliances", the problem is almost always in the reconnecting.  That is, assuming everything was working as it should before the disconnections.

In other words, it is likely that you have made some incorrect connections.  And believe me, this is a lot easier than you might think.  I've been working on VWs for thirty years and I have yet to wire one back so that everything worked perfectly on the first try.

So............it would be a good idea to dig up a color wiring diagram (try www.vintagebus.com) and go over the problem areas (or the whole thing!) very carefully checking for correct number and color installations.

Mike

1970 AS Bug

Mike

1970 AS Bug
1970 Bus - The Ruptured Duck
  • From: Westminster, Colorado
  • Registered: 2005-09-25
  • Posts: 22

Re: Left tail light hot all the time, nothing on right, no front turn sign

Thanks Mike,
I've got wiring diagrams all over the garage floor.  :-)

I've pulled out the headlight switch to give it a bath in contact cleaner.  Unfortunately, when we bought the car and drove it into the garage, we didn't check all the lights so there's no telling what worked 2 years ago. 

I'm going thru the diagrams and will start tracking wires all the way back to their origin.  I'm trying to eliminate possibilities before I start replacing parts.

My biggest question is how the light has power all the time.  The diagram doesn't show what has power all the time (or I'm not reading it right).

In any case, thanks for the help,
Dennis

  • From: Westminster, Colorado
  • Registered: 2005-09-25
  • Posts: 22

Re: Left tail light hot all the time, nothing on right, no front turn sign

update on the lights:

1) after seeing a posting somewhere about VW lights staying on, it occured to me that I had not checked the tail light switch in all three positions, duh.  the tail lights now go off.

2) my daughter has been fired from the "hooking up the turn signals team."  upon further review, she had a black and a brown reversed on the front right turn signal.  that's not good thing for a fuse

we now have all the lights going on and turning off when they should with the exception of the left front turn signal, but I'm not too worried about figuring that out.

Also, passed the emissions test yesterday with flying colors (WAHOO!!) and this bug is on the road.

  • From: Long Island, New York
  • Registered: 2005-08-25
  • Posts: 211

Re: Left tail light hot all the time, nothing on right, no front turn sign

Did you check the bulb?

Patrick

Owner of a 1970 Beetle.  Minus all the rust and most of my money.
  • From: Westminster, Colorado
  • Registered: 2005-09-25
  • Posts: 22

Re: Left tail light hot all the time, nothing on right, no front turn sign

I did, and it checked out OK, but  I didn't have time to check for power yet. 
there's always next weekend
thanks

  • From: Long Island, New York
  • Registered: 2005-08-25
  • Posts: 211

Re: Left tail light hot all the time, nothing on right, no front turn sign

Sounds good. Good luck.

Patrick

Owner of a 1970 Beetle.  Minus all the rust and most of my money.
  • From: City of Roses
  • Registered: 2004-03-29
  • Posts: 793

Re: Left tail light hot all the time, nothing on right, no front turn sign

Hiya TRC,

You're making progress!

If my own experience is any standard, you are right on schedule to getting all the little electrical gremlins fixed.  Hang in there - you'll be glad you did!

Mike

1970 AS Bug

Mike

1970 AS Bug
1970 Bus - The Ruptured Duck