[Vwdiesel] Dim Headlights

[James Hansen]

William J Toensing wrote:
> I can't say if this is true with VWs but suspect it is.

yes it is, full headlight current goes through the light switch.

To make it even more fun, as the switch gets older, oxidation on the 
internal switch contacts raises the resistance.  Resistance equates to 
heat production.  Heat production equates to melting plastic, and 
eventually the switch in an A1 can fail rather spectacularly, as it 
discharges all it's stored smoke into the vehicle interior at once, 
causing nearby components to also release their smoke in sympathy.
Have that happen on a moonless night, entering a big curve, in a 
snowstorm, south of Irricana, Alberta in a series of 90 degree bends in 
the highway. I was there, got the tshirt.
I relay the headlights now.

Used to think that it was clever to have the right and left headlights 
on separate circuits, so you wouldn't lose all the lights in one foof, 
unless of course, you find out the single switch feeds the whole deal 
rendering the redundancy of mulitple circuits entirely useless...

That flash to pass deal is pretty useful if you think to pull it while 
still on the road, and can see through the smoke...

-james