Good Evening, Pid,

That particular problem has "bad ground" written all over it. Of course, us old-timers know that VWs NEVER have any ground problems...

In the engine compartment, gently pull down the triangular black sound absorber panels and look to see if the brown ground wire is attached to the body. Sometimes there are push-on terminals and sometimes there are ring terminals, but regardless of the type, make sure that the connection is solid, clean and tight.

If you still have a problem after having verified good ground connections, remove the lens for each side and make sure that the right color (colour to our British Friends) wires are connected to the right place on the reflector and that it also has good ground connections. While you are in there, make sure that you have the correct bulb in each socket. I've seen single filament bulbs forced into double filament sockets and it causes bunches of trouble.

If you don't already have one, I'd strongly suggest that you buy the appropriate Repair Manual from this site and use the wiring diagram for your '79 to trace down the problem. As it happens, I'm repairing a wiring harness in a '72 Super that has been badly hacked up and burned over the years and I would be lost without my Bentley V179. And remember: brown is ground!

Regards,

Art LeBrun

Thanks Art,

I will look.

Everything was fine last week, and then I left the lights on for an hour while inside my Sister's house and the dims were on. After that all went to kaos.

I looked at the bulbs and since everything was OK before, I suspect the bulbs are OK. I changed them anyway and checked the numbers at the auto shop to ensure thay are the right ones. Checked the contacts of the bulbs today and still no go.

I will try to find the ground (Brown I get it!). I already have the diagrams and I already found the in line fuse so I am pumped I can do it..

The good news is I am OK during the daytime!!!!!

Again thanks for the reply!!!!

Stu (Pid)

I am having a problem with my Reverse light, that is that they dont turn on, i have a 1974 Beetle and am trying to get into the Beetle game here and learn all i can, but anyways the reverse lights dont come on every other light does just not that one, i checked the bulbs- nothing. So i went online and looked at the diagram (which kinda didnt make sense) but i saw that the reverse light wire is orange so i followed the wires into the beetle and under the back seat there are 3 wires that are Cut and taped off, one is orange one is yellow with a red stripe and the other looks brown, its old and faded but it looks brown! all the other wires look fine but those three, do you know if one of those wires are the one i need? i didnt see another set of wires that would connect to those so im confused on where those go and WHY THEY ARE CUT! Any help would be GREAT! ThANK You for your KNowledge it is greatly appreciated!
AJ
(NEW TO BEETLES)

AJ,

I would guess those cut wires might go to the reverse light sender located on the transmission. This might explain your lack of reverse lights.

If you need a color wiring diagram you can find them in the technical section at www.thesamba.com

-Stan