Headlights are out -- IM

The first picture... I noticed on my car that if that thing isn't grounded the lights go out.

IM will have a record of where it is and they will gladly(VERY LIKELY) help find it.

If you have your IM VIN#, it should be a cake walk...good luck!

Thanks, Rusty and Banzai. For the record, I have been talking with Robert at IM quite a bit and he has been very helpful. I just thought I'd give him a break today and get some help from this forum

For posterity's sake, the headlight relay on my IM had a part # of SAR 9200. It was an old "made in West Germany" part. It also had markings that said that it is a 12Vmax2x150W. When I googled this part, I only found a couple of old VW posts with old stock relays, none of which are available.  As such, I found a similar, modern part # of a BWD relay (#R3018), which I was able to pick up from my local Advance Auto Parts store for $27. It looks like Sierra Madre also has this part on their site as well.

Wish me luck!

Does anyone know if this (R3018) is a latching relay?  It looks like it from the schematic, but I'm not sure.  I might be able to use it to replace my VW headlight relay if it fails again.  Thanks!

Gordon, I *believe* that R3018 is a latching relay. I say *believe* b/c I've only tested it out in a sort of 'hacking' way -- touching two wires together -- because my turn signal lever (which contains my hi/low beam selector) is broken. That said, my turn signal/hi-lo selector setup IS a VW part (I know because I *just* reordered it)...so I am thinking that R3018 will likely work for you

Found this photo of the R3018 on O'Reilly's site and I'm pretty sure that's the 'dipping' (or latching) relay circuit, too. Description of the product also says 'not for continuous duty' which describes the duty cycle for a dipping relay. I assume they mean the coil in the relay isn't intended for  continuous use.

A conventional relay (used for just about every other automotive application) would be rated for continuous current through the relay's coil.

Makes sense, Mitch.  I am not familiar with the diagonal line across the relay function box and assumed that it was a latcher from the schematic - sounds like it probably is.

VW used a mechanical latcher for hi/lo beam in the late 60's - 70's (which is what I use, too) but it would be nice to be able to replace it with something a little more "modern" (and less expensive).

Thanks! 

While lying on your back under the dash, use some tape and a pen to label each wire as you remove it from the relay. (use the pin number)   Failure to do this will usually cause another edition of "The Sailor's Language Dictionary" to be published....

The relays never look the same and the pins will not have the same orientation...Make sure the case is grounded if metallic....  

Pertinent question.....How do he know???   

Banzai is right on this one.  

My IM has two relays under the hood and one relay dimmer under the dash so a quick call to the maker will help you to know what specific you have as they have a build document of your car.  You could though keep looking