With the same symptoms, my headlight switch was the defective part.  It
passes all the current for the headlights.  So if you have high wattage
bulbs, you are overstressing a marginal part to begin with.  I do use high
wattage bulbs and have installed a 3 relay system where the stock headlight
switch only enables the relays and does not pass the headlight current.

Joe Fahy

----- Original Message -----
From: "Loretta Abbott-Kennon" <SyncrogalVW@CS.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2001 12:43 AM
Subject: help, headlights not working

>
> Hello List,  I need your assistance once again.
> The other day one of my headlights went out, it was raining and I didn't
feel
> like changing the bulb so used my brights(high-beams).  Yesterday the
brights
> quit working, well they did work but only when the lever was physically
held
> down, they did not stay on by themselves.  When the rain took a break I
went
> to change the burnt bulb and when I put everything back together, neither
of
> the headlights worked when I flipped the switch. The parking lights do
work,
> however.  And the high beams still work when the lever is physically held
> down.
> I checked the fuses under the dash, all okay and checked the headlights
while
> the engine was running.  What should I check next?  The switch?  Please
let
> me know if you have experienced this problem before and how you resolved
it.
> Thank you for all you do!
> -Loretta
> 87 Syncro GL
>