Headlight issue

[mark 74 carrera]

Guys,

I am looking for some advice and/or a solution. Here's what I have. 1974 1.8 liter. Trying to get the car to pass a safety inspection in TX. When I got the car the headlight motors didn't open and only the driver's side headlight worked. I installed a fuse and determined that one motor was bad so it was replaced.

Bought two new headlights (Pelican) and installed all the parts. First I did the passengers side and the motor and new light worked. Installed the replacement motor on the driver's side and installed the driver's side light.

Now, both motors work but only the driver's side light works. In other words, after the motors were addressed, only the driver's side light worked. So, the passenger's side light wasn't really bad in the first place!

Oh, and only either the low or high beams work. When I flip the switch it goes from off to on, not from low beam to high beam.

What in the world would cause the driver's side light to turn off the passenger side light? Any idea on the low vs high beam problem?

Thanks for any help. Mark

[mark 74 carrera]

Fog lights work when dim light (passenger side) and turn off when bright (driver's side) headlight is on. I located the dimmer relay and it is clicking when I flip from low to high beams.

I feel like I'm chasing a ghost around the car. I know its probably something simple but can't figure it out.

Mark

[Mats]

Did you replace the low/high beam relay?

[Emo993]

Both sides have separate grounds, and check wire ends. Best.

[mark 74 carrera]

Thanks guys. Yes, I am going to replace the relay. I've read most of the threads on headlights problems and the relay at the fuse panel is suspect. I have checked all grounds. I am going to clean all electrical connections as that was listed as a possible cause for intermittent electrical issues. The car has been sitting for a long time and the contacts look scaly and dirty.

Mark

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Each high beam and each low beam has its own fuse. That's four fuses for the headlights. Check them all--pull them out and look, because they can pop and still look OK in the holder. Also clean up the holder "fingers" while you're at it.

Check for voltage at the fuse holders when the headlights are on. If you have +12V on both low beam fuses at the same time, and +12V on the high beam fuses at the same time (but not on all four at the same time!) then your problem is between the fuse panel and the lights. If you don't have +12V on both low beam fuses (or both high beam fuses) then your problem is "upstream" of the fuses.

Isolate the problem, and keep narrowing it down until you've found exactly where it is.

--DD

[mark 74 carrera]

Thanks Dave. I'll be back at this weekend and have plans to check voltages as you suggest and clean everything electrical. Is it correct that the fog lights only work when the low beams are on?

I was taught when I was learning to drive that you should use low beam in fog because less light was reflected back from the fog. Over the years, I found this to be true. So, fog lights and low beams do make sense to me.

Mark

[Tobra]

the relay can click and still not work right, mine did

got new relay and cover for the fuses at a local air cooled VW shop. Fuse cover is the same as the one on a super beetle, relay is same as a 1970 standard bug, or a bus, or something. Can't remember what the gas cap was from, old bug you had to open the hood to put gas in, like the 914

[mark 74 carrera]

It was the fuses and the contact points. Replaced all four fuses with new ones and it works perfectly. Now, back to the brakes

Mark