Brake and Turn Signal lights NO/GO...

[Rob 57 Oval (Talon)]

After driving my ride home during the rain on July 4th, my turn/brake lights are NO/GO.  I get a steady turn indicator light on speedo.  I tested power tonight.  I have good running lights (so LEDs are good), power to flasher relay and brake switch @ master cyl. Also took apart turn signal switch and used contact cleaner on that.
 
 
 
Any thoughts of what is up or what I missed??

[VolksDragen]

Rob, do the lights to come on and not blink ? you mentioned that the dash indicator light stays on,
Are your turn sig lights LED's also? as they use a flasher with an external ground wire... could still be signal switch bad since single bulb systems the brake light circuit goes through the signal switch.

[Kimbo]

Mmm, rain, immediate thought is that water's got in somewhere....

I'm kinda of with Volksy - you mention power TO the flasher relay - is the relay working (you should be able to hear it click when the circuit is completed/live), and therefore are you getting power OUT of the flasher relay?

[Rick G]

I've had trouble with mine screwing up because of the emergency flasher switch, but if I remember correctly I had no indicator, not a steady light.

[Rob 57 Oval (Talon)]

Mmm, rain, immediate thought is that water's got in somewhere....

I'm kinda of with Volksy - you mention power TO the flasher relay - is the relay working (you should be able to hear it click when the circuit is completed/live), and therefore are you getting power OUT of the flasher relay?

My thoughts too...  It was fine until the ride home in the weather.

[Kimbo]

You need to move back to Tucson - they don't have "weather" there...... apparently

[Rob 57 Oval (Talon)]

You need to move back to Tucson - they don't have "weather" there...... apparently

I loved living in Tucson, but I like Florida a bit more...

[Kimbo]

LOL - yeah well, it's a reason, not a good one, but none-the-less a reason.

Silcone, that's what you need, and I've heard there's plenty of that floating around in that part of the world

[Mike9300]

Silcone, that's what you need, and I've heard there's plenty of that floating around in that part of the world

I see what you did right there, well done

 

[Rob 57 Oval (Talon)]

Well, I now have brake lights, but now my headlights come on when I hit the brakes(  how??? not even wired together at any point  ).  Also, just found out car wont turn off (motor) if headlights are on  .  This is getting out of control...all after a rain day. 

It is now offically funny to me as I cant get anymore pissed.

[Kimbo]

Did you do anything before these new issues started occurring, or did they just happen ? If you did change something, then unchange it and see if the new issues go away - if you didn't change anything then.... I'm still going with water getting in somewhere behind the dash.

I don't have access to an original wiring diagram, so can't confirm what I'm about to say, but some thoughts for you: the tail lights and head lights will essentially be wired into the same circuit and switch - if I remember correctly the Beetle light switch is a multi-position twist unit: 1st position you get tail lights and running lights, second position you get tail, running and head light; the brake lights may also get their live wire from the "power in" side of the light switch and will turn on when you apply the brakes - the switch at the brake pedal will "open" causing the circuit to be completed - the flasher relay may also get it's live feed in (from the main light switch) the same way. If the main light switch has gone for a vacation, due to water getting in, then it may be openeing and closing circuits in a strange way.

Things don't actually have to APPEAR to be wired together for them to actually BE wired together - primarily because they're all part of one big metal encased "circuit", called the car.

[Rob 57 Oval (Talon)]

Well, after 6 hours of sweatin and cussin, all the lights are back to normal.  I disconected and checked every damn wire replaced all fuses, and rewired the PoS LEDs.  I found one wire off from headlight switch to ignition, so that was the reason the engine kept running with lights on. 

What a pain!!!

[Kimbo]

...  I found one wire off from headlight switch to ignition, so that was the reason the engine kept running with lights on. 

Mmm, that must've been there for some time - surprised you didn't come across the issue sooner?

Anyway glad you've got it fixed, electrical problems are a royal pain in the a$$

[buggyman]

 

I don't have access to an original wiring diagram

 
I've posted this up ~a 1/2 kazillion times


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