There is a black/yellow stripe wire on the back of the headlight switch.
Check to see if this has 12 volts with the key on. The 12 volts here
comes from the ignition switch. If the 12 volts is missing here with the
key on, the ignition switch is bad. If the 12 volts is there ok, the "X"
relay has gone bad. This has a large "18 stamped on it and it lives in
relay socket 8.

It is normal for the high beam switch to make the lights come on no
matter what, as long as you hold it in the up position. It will do this
even with the headlight switch removed.

Mark

JordanVw@AOL.COM wrote:

>...
>1986 Vanagon Sycro Westfalia  VIN: VW2ZB0258GG082766
>
>I swapped the low beam lamps a few months back and did not  have any
>immediate problems,
>but I guess running on the back roads with the high beams on for 3 hours did
>the trick, and I cooked the headlight switch. When I got to my destination the
>switch was melted in the ON position, and I was forced to unplug the wires to
>the switch to shut off the parking lights so I could camp for the night. This
>morning I re-plugged the switch, and I'm just getting the parking lights, no
>head lights at all.
>The front & rear heater blower fans, and the front wiper/washer is also dead,
>everything else appears to work.
>Oddly if I pull back on the turn signal headlight flasher just the high beams
>flash on.
>I had a good (pre-tested) spare headlight switch along, and I am getting the
>same results with it installed.
>
>All fuses are good (visual & meter tested)
>
>Before I dig any deeper here at the campground I figured to just ask the
>group if anyone else has had this happen or has any ideas or work around? I have
>the Bently book  along for reference, basic tools & a soldering iron.
>
>