Electrical help with RT turn signal

[John Dol]

I have the Russ Thompson turn signal on my coupe. Initially I had the stock lights etc. The system was all hooked up and worked as needed. I changed over to LED headlights,and I don’t know if it has to do with that, but the high beams are now just flash to pass. They don’t stay on.
Attached is the schematic that was used for the install.
Am I missing something?

89245

Thanks

John

[Gbeck]

It's a possibility that the lower load of the LED lights results in a higher current flow than your headlight switch's circuit breaker can handle. Do your headlights not stay off, but come back on in a few moments, then off again?

Do a search for "resistor for LED headlights". There are lots of sources.

HTH
Glenn

[edwardb]

Unless I'm missing something, the lower current draw of the LED's shouldn't cause the circuit breaker in the headlight switch to trip. Again, unless I'm missing something, the resistors for LED headlights are a solution for cars where an LED conversion causes the car's computer to think the light is burned out due to the lower current draw, and issues a warning message. Not applicable in this case. There are also resistors that are added to flash circuits (turn signals, hazards) that won't flash with the lower draw of the LED's. Solid state flashers are a much better solution, but that's off topic and doesn't apply here either.

In theory, the LED headlights should work fine with the RF harness and Delco style headlight switch provided in these kits. Should be able to just plug them in and enjoy the better lighting with much lower current draw. I'm running an LED conversion kit in my #8674 Roadster, and it works perfectly. I'm wondering if a wire got knocked off somewhere or maybe something failed. Like that famous latching relay. The VW one in your diagram. They're known for exactly what you describe. If you plug the old headlights back in, does it work like before or does it still fail?

[John Dol]

edwardb,

I haven't tried switching back to the old head lights yet. The covers are all on etc. Was hoping it would be the wiring.
I will pick up a new relay to see if that is the problem.

Thank you,

John

[edwardb]

edwardb,

I haven't tried switching back to the old head lights yet. The covers are all on etc. Was hoping it would be the wiring.
I will pick up a new relay to see if that is the problem.

Thank you,

John

I assume you know that VW style latching relay is a somewhat unique part that likely isn't available at your local parts store. Lots of options to buy online, with prices all over the place. But in general, not cheap. I'd hate to see you go through that based on a guess. It's a candidate to be the problem, but not a sure thing. In hindsight, would have been a good idea to electrically test before buttoning everything up. Easy to say, I know. Maybe you don't have to take everything apart. You do have Weatherpacks or something similar outside the headlight buckets? How about unplugging and then jumping to your old headlight bulbs?

[John Dol]

Yes I do have the weather packs, and that would be the way to do it!

Thanks for the suggestion

John

[weendoggy]

I assume you know that VW style latching relay is a somewhat unique part that likely isn't available at your local parts store.

That relay is a Standard LR35 ($21 +/-) and can be found a lot of places. I run LED headlights with this setup and don't have any problems.

[edwardb]

That relay is a Standard LR35 ($21 +/-) and can be found a lot of places. I run LED headlights with this setup and don't have any problems.

Thanks for the update/correction. Using only the VW number, I had a difficult time trying to find one locally when I needed to replace the one in my Mk3 several years ago. I see now that in addition to the Standard LR35, Borg Warner (BWD) R3018, DNI 0127, and Echlin AR284 (NAPA) all appear to be the same style latching relay. All in the $20-30-40 range.

Agree there's no reason this relay won't work with LED's. I suggested it because John described how his headlights would flash high beams but wouldn't stay switched. This could be the relay not latching as its supposed to, which is exactly how mine failed.

[John Dol]

I can get the relay. If it doesn't work I can always return it.
Now only if I had the time....
Works got me in Mass for the foreseeable future. Only home on weekends, so not the best time to go tinkering in the garage.

John

[John Dol]

Ordered the relay from Amazon during the week.
Had a few spare minutes this morning and put it in. That solved the issue.
Thanks for the help gents.
This means I can start thinking about buttoning up the dash.

John

[Big Blocker]

What's the score now . . . BAD VW relay 100+, owners not having issues, 10.

Glad you got it fixed easily

Any way these numbers [ Standard LR35, Borg Warner (BWD) R3018, DNI 0127, and Echlin AR284 (NAPA) ] can be photoshopped onto the original drawing that everyone is using ?? so there is a reference besides the VW number.

Doc

[John Dol]

What's the score now . . . BAD VW relay 100+, owners not having issues, 10

LOL, it was an easy fix. I just put the LR35 number into Amazon and ordered it from there. Hopefully this one will last longer.

John