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I've lost low beam on the headlights.

FM Former Member
All of a sudden a few days ago, the low beam quit working. Here's what I know so far:
1. Light switch is sending power to both the S and 30 terminals of the dimmer relay.
2. When the wire to the low beams is connected to the high beam pin on the relay, the low beams work, so I know that the fuse, wiring, and bulbs for the low beams all work.
3. When the dimmer switch on the stalk is pushed, the high beams come on. When pushed again, they go out and the low beams don't come on. All the other lights that should be on are on, but the low beams don't come on.
4. The relay 'clicks' when the switch on the stalk is pushed, but it does not send power to the low beams.
5. Sometimes when the relay clicks, the high beams stay on.
6. I bought a new relay, and with it the low beams work but the high beams don't work. (Other terminal on the relay doesn't get power). It switches fine however (no problem #5).

What are the chances that the new relay is toast right out of the box?
Even though the dimmer switch trips the relay, could it be the dimmer switch?
Any ideas?
Ron
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FM Former Member
All of a sudden a few days ago, the low beam quit working. Here's what I know so far:
1. Light switch is sending power to both the S and 30 terminals of the dimmer relay.
2. When the wire to the low beams is connected to the high beam pin on the relay, the low beams work, so I know that the fuse, wiring, and bulbs for the low beams all work.
3. When the dimmer switch on the stalk is pushed, the high beams come on. When pushed again, they go out and the low beams don't come on. All the other lights that should be on are on, but the low beams don't come on.
4. The relay 'clicks' when the switch on the stalk is pushed, but it does not send power to the low beams.
5. Sometimes when the relay clicks, the high beams stay on.
6. I bought a new relay, and with it the low beams work but the high beams don't work. (Other terminal on the relay doesn't get power). It switches fine however (no problem #5).

What are the chances that the new relay is toast right out of the box?
Even though the dimmer switch trips the relay, could it be the dimmer switch?
Any ideas?
Ron
oldyeleroldyeler
Those relays use a mechical wigwag mecanisum. It,s tricky but I,ve had them apart and fix a many of them over the years . They usally get stuck one way or the other, a simple cleaning and lube is the norm, Getting the cover off with out damaging it is the real problem. Just take it slow and easy. You may have to clean the point contacts and tweek the wigwag mecanisum just a tad but thats the easy part, If you have a old one just have at it and you,ll be surprise how simple VW made the part.
(Message Edited 10/6/2003 8:08:12 AM)
FM Former Member
Thanks Barry, I took it apart last night, and sure enough, the wigwag was only wigging. It had lost its spring tension in one direction and therefore was only making contact on the high beam side, not the low beam side. A little rebending of the wigwagger and it is now wigwagging again. As a side note, the contact to high beams is by mechanical pressure, not spring pressure, so the high beams will not ever have this problem. The low beam side is the 'return' and is by spring tension of the wigwag arm. The moral is, leave the lights set on low beam and you will not have spring tension-removing pressure on the wigwag while it sits.

The interesting thing is the new dimmer relay I bought doesn't work. I'm returning it so I am not going to take it apart to find out why.

(Message Edited 10/7/2003 9:47:52 AM)
oldyeleroldyeler
Glad to Help, their are several variactions of those switches but as long as you got it straighened out. all that tinkering over the years got to be good for something.

Also I have often wondered if a dimmer relay and a flasher relay hooked up in tandum is how the german police cars got their red lites and horns to alternate in the old days. and Yes they did use porsche 356s as police cruzers.
(Message Edited 10/7/2003 5:55:41 PM)
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