My headlight switch is starting to act up, I can easily turn on the headlights, but when turning them off the know will not go in all the way, leaving the running lamps on. It's getting more and more difficult and I can foresee the day when I'll not be able to turn the lights off all the way.
Does anyone know if these are standard VW headlight switches, and if so, for what year?
I've got a 2009 Vintage Speedster.
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Thanks for the question Tom, it reveals how poorly I communicated! There is a physical obstruction that stops me from pressing the knob all of the way in, it just will not go.
After slightly turning the knob and repeated attempts, I am able to physically get the knob all of the way in. So it seems to be a physical problem inside the switch.
Does the switch feel loose in the dash? If you unscrew the knob out a ways can you then push in the switch completely and reliably?
If you can see the headlight switch housing behind the dash, if it is cylindrical, it's a 58-67 VW, if it's rectangular with 6 terminals, it's 68-70, if it's rectangular with 8 terminals it's 71+.
It is not loose Justin. When I press the knob in, it hits strong resistance when it has about 1/8" to go before being fully pushed in. Jiggling it and slightly rotating it will generally allow me to press it in all the way after 3-4 attempts.
Thanks for the info on how to determine which switch it is.
How about unscrewing the knob? I was thinking that if the fiberglass is too thick at the mounting location, the mounting nut might stick out too far and interfere with the knob preventing full inward movement of the switch. Is there a gap between the knob and mounting nut when the switch is fully turned off?
Justin, it's worked well for three years and also it just feels funny when it starts binding up. You really get the feeling that somethings amiss inside that switch!
The switch on mine is a 1958-style beetle switch:
http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/c...st.cfm?ID=113941531C
http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDe...D111%2D941%2D529%2D1
They're complicated little buggers that carry a lot of current. They do go bad, sometimes in exciting ways involving crackling and the release of the magic smoke/electric ghost.
The escutcheon is a pain if you don't spring for a special escutcheon removal tool. You can make something that will work by cutting a notch into a penny of the appropriate width and depth. Just file any bits that might contact the dash paint so you don't scratch it.
Ted, thanks for the tip on the tool. Is this an adjustable tool that can be used with different sizes of escutcheons? Do you know where I can purchase one?
Here's an adjustable escutcheon removal tool:
http://vwparts.aircooled.net/D.../escutcheon-tool.htm
Someone on the Samba hit upon the same idea about cutting up a penny but they did it with a washer. The washer is easier since you wouldn't have to cut through as much but the economics just don't make sense. I mean, the washer is possibly 15x the expense of the penny! Just think of what you could do with all that extra cash in your pocket!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/for...ewtopic.php?t=405872
Plus, cutting up the penny is probably illegal and the ladies are attracted to bad boys. Be sure to blast "Breakin' the Law" or James Brown's "Superbad" when making one.
