Headlight switch burned out!

[dub be good to me]

Hey all, after fixing a water leak yesterday I replaced the dashboard only to find smoke pouring from it as soon as I started the car (with headlights on). After disconnecting the battery and hunting I found the culprit.. the headlight switch was smoking heavily (intermittently) and had fused itself in the on position. The area that was smoking is the coil behind the dash brightness adjustment wheel (see pic).

Has anyone experienced anything like this before? I'm wondering if I might have crossed some wires or a loose wire may have touched the coil (although I couldn't see anything like that).

P.S - Needless to say I need a new headlight switch if someone has one!

[gtimk5]

I burnt out a switch in my golf years ago at 2am in a rally. I was using 100/80 watt headlight globes without a relay at the time. It burnt the reostat out for the dashlights which in turn stopped the headlights from working.
I have new switches here for $35 if you need but I am sure you could get a secondhand one over there cheaper.
Andrew

[Spyda]

You should relay your head lights. One of the reasons why people relay their headlights it to avoid what happend to you. 25yr old wires dont handle the current well, espcialy if you have higher wattage bulbs in.

http://www.vintagewatercooleds.com/tech/Techtips/Timbotechnotes/headlight/Headlight.htm

This happend to me when i was puting LED lights in my mk2 switch, it happend to me for a different reason though, i soldered incorectly.

[Peter Jones]

I'd check that the globe holders for the cigarette lighter and ashtray haven't fallen out somewhere and shorted out the dash light circuit.

Pete

[dub be good to me]

Thanks for the info guys! Looks like its back in the workshop this Saturday for some TLC (good chance to tidy up the electrics

I'm thinking of fitting a kill switch, does anyone know the wire which goes from the key ignition back to the starter motor? I've identified the main power wire (the big red one!) with the multi-meter, but want the kill switch to just knock out the engine turning over not the dash electrics etc.

Cheers

[gtimk5]

If you still have points type ignition, run a wire from the negative side of the coil to a switch under the dash and to earth, that way it will wind over but wont get spark.
I used to hook it up to the cigarette lighter and disconnect the power wire that normally goes to it. So, when parked I would just push in the lighter, no spark!!!
Andrew

[dub be good to me]

The cigarette lighter! Genius!
I've got electronic ignition, will it still work?
P.S - anyone got any cheap headlights switches?
Thinking of buying off ebay but not sure of quality
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/VW-Mk1-A1-Jet...3A1|240%3A1318

[paulie71]

That switch looks like a later model (Mk2 or Mk1 cabrio late 80's early 90's). I have one here in good nick but white lamp icon faded but still in one piece. PM me with an offer.

Part number is 171 941 531 E and coil (dashboard light dimmer dial is clean with no burn marks.