Scott wrote "The one that surprised me is the ole 'head lights only work if
you pull the stalk for high beams.'
Naturally you'd be thinking about the high beam switch, the head light
switch etc...
that one, with 'no other' symptoms of any kind anywhere, was a faulty
ignition switch...
please explain that to me oh wise one !"

The reason for this effect is that VW chose to use direct battery power for
the "flashing" feature of the high beams. Thus, with the ignition and or
headlight switch off or defective the high beams will work while holding the
lever up. If the ignition is off and the headlight switch is on, then
lifting the high beam lever will also back feed everything else on the
ignition circuit.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Scott Daniel - Turbovans
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 9:10 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Alternator light mystery

true, and you are likely right about the ignition switch.
however ...
they should always be considered.
granted, if it turns on 4 things, you'd think it would not be the reason for
# 5 to not work.

The one that surprised me is the ole 'head lights only work if you pull the
stalk for high beams.'
Naturally you'd be thinking about the high beam switch, the head light
switch etc...
that one, with 'no other' symptoms of any kind anywhere, was a faulty
ignition switch...
please explain that to me oh wise one !

lol.
anyway, based on that experience, the ign switch is always on the list of
possible suspects in my book, even though it seems that it could not
possibly be that.

Scott
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Beierl" <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 4:57 PM
Subject: Re: Alternator light mystery

> At 04:59 PM 5/24/2010, neil n wrote:
>>Hinky ign. switch?
>
> Nope.  Everything else that should have been lit, was.  Best guess of
> the moment is a marginal contact at the LED.
>
> d