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Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:45 pm

ive got the bus driveable and took it for a cruz around the block. could really use some taillights so i can take this thing to get roadworthy. man it was so nice.

on one housing i have i can not get the bulb to twist into place. ive messed with it for quite a while and its clean and???? im pushin it all the way in til it bottoms but idk

maybe there is sumthin about this housing as the bulbs work in the other?? bulb wont work in top or bottom sockets. housing looks the same tho idk.

also, i need to drill holes through the body for the tail light assemblies. anyone know what size to drill/tap? just bolt on screw in backside?

regarding the wiring. im missin something. i've looked at different wiring schematics and im not seein it. i have orange top of reflector and red bottom.

sumthin seems wrong. ive got wires in the main harness from worlfsburg west for what appears to be driving lights and another for blinkers.

wheres the brake? lol. 3 filaments and only two power sources hmmm. looks like P/O didnt ever have the top bulbs wired???? rusty exposed wire ends.

many thank yous. so close!

Mon Dec 13, 2010 11:50 pm

also

i am having trouble finding the 4 recessed flat head screws for the top window halves to door attachments. they go in the door jam. luckily i have 1 of the 4 to match to but it is stripped badly.

wolfsburg looks like they got em but you gotta buy a kit to get them times dos and then shipping makes em 15 dollar screws. Pffffffffff

any sources would be greatly appreciated

Tue Dec 14, 2010 8:09 am

Regarding the bulbs, are you sure you have the correct offset bayonet dual filament or what.

Tue Dec 14, 2010 9:04 am

Can't change a lightbulb? Didn't do a search, but is this an elementary school shop project?

Tue Dec 14, 2010 9:24 am

post pics of bus, of taillight bulb holders.

Sounds like you have a euro 62-71 taillight, with two bulbs, one for turnsignal, the other for running light and brake.
But you have a N American spec bus.
Check the wiring diagrams, there is a US spec and a euro spec version. On the 62 & later euro version, there is an extra wire for the brake lights.

Either hook it up us spec style, ignoring the upper amber part of the taillight, or alter your wiring to fit euro spec. Which is ridiculous, if you just installed a new wiring digram.
Or just get US spec taillights. :idea:
I have 62-71 euro taillight in my 61 bus. I added the wiring to make it work. Someone else hacked the later taillights in decades ago.

On the lower (brake/taillight) part of the taillght, you want a 1157 bulb with the offset bumps on the sides. You must align the bulb correctly. If you have it wrong, turn it 180 * and try again.
On the upper part, it takes the one filiament bulb for turn signal only. Bumps at same level as each other.
The upper bulb doesn't fit the lower part, and vice versa.

Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:45 am

Clara wrote:

On the lower (brake/taillight) part of the taillght, you want a 1157 bulb with the offset bumps on the sides. You must align the bulb correctly. If you have it wrong, turn it 180 * and try again.
On the upper part, it takes the one filiament bulb for turn signal only. Bumps at same level as each other.
The upper bulb doesn't fit the lower part, and vice versa.

The bulb holders could be installed in different positions, relative to the housings.
Don't assume that the bulbs will install the same. Turn it 180 and try again. You might also be pushing the bulb in too far.

Tue Dec 14, 2010 11:39 am

if its a single bulb the brake lights and turn signal share the same wire. black with red stRipe and black with yelLow stripe right and left. The lights are run by the grey with red stripe (tail/license)

Tue Dec 14, 2010 4:14 pm

yeah, its the european style housings and lense covers. I got the wolfsburg west wiring harness replacement and i guess its just for standard brake/blinker and running lights?

i'll just run standard and ignore the top blinker socket til i decide to modify or just buy standar housing tailights.

as far as the bulb, i got the dual filament from WW as well. the bumps are offset. they work fine in the right side and no go in either of the left sockets. it seems like the bumps should not be offset in this housing?goofy. anyway i'll look around the classifieds for standard housing.

are there housing made for single/dual filament bulbs without offset bumps?

Tue Dec 14, 2010 4:44 pm

kombisutra wrote: Can't change a lightbulb? Didn't do a search, but is this an elementary school shop project?

How many Bus owners does it take to change a light bulb? :idea:

Tue Dec 14, 2010 7:00 pm

Lifted1 wrote: yeah, its the european style housings and lense covers. I got the wolfsburg west wiring harness replacement and i guess its just for standard brake/blinker and running lights?

i'll just run standard and ignore the top blinker socket til i decide to modify or just buy standar housing tailights.

as far as the bulb, i got the dual filament from WW as well. the bumps are offset. they work fine in the right side and no go in either of the left sockets. it seems like the bumps should not be offset in this housing?goofy. anyway i'll look around the classifieds for standard housing.

are there housing made for single/dual filament bulbs without offset bumps?

If you're going to run dual filament bulbs then you have to have dual filament sockets which are offset. Single filament are not offset. You can always cheat an offset bayonet by filing off one side but then the contacts still won't match etc.

Tue Dec 14, 2010 9:17 pm

USA wiring is routed from the brakelight switch through the turn signal switch.

If it were me, I'd opt for running a separate wire from the brakelight switch back to the housings and using the Euro setup that you have. Tun signals should be in the upper sockets, tail lights and brake lights in the lower sockets. Better visibility with the amber t/signals separated from the red brake lights. Think safety.

You would still have the issue with the twin filament bulb not fitting.
Have you tried shining a small light into the actual bulb holder and seeing if there are two offset slots for the bulb? I guess it's possible that the manufacturer installed faulty sockets that don't have the provision in the ground side of the socket for the offset pins on the bulb.

Tue Dec 14, 2010 9:38 pm

joemac,

brake light switch is attached to rear of master cylinder correct? i just extend that connection to rear brake light socket filament and then jump over to other light and thats it? thats simple if thats it imma do that and utilize the upper sockets for blinkers.

the bottom socket on that housing does not appear to be offset. i have some extra bulbs so imma file a side off and see what happens for the time being while i source replacement housing.

Wed Dec 15, 2010 12:12 am

Lifted1 wrote:

the bottom socket on that housing does not appear to be offset. i have some extra bulbs so imma file a side off and see what happens for the time being while i source replacement housing.

Hey, why don't you try turning that taillight upside down?
Is the lower bulb holder offset now? :P

Wed Dec 15, 2010 3:16 pm

hahaha, hmmmm wouldnt it look different when running lights lit? the spaces within the housing are different sizes. both sockets are the same and do not appear to e offset. nothin would change with that regard.

nice thought tho!

Wed Dec 15, 2010 4:54 pm

Lifted1 wrote: joemac,

brake light switch is attached to rear of master cylinder correct? i just extend that connection to rear brake light socket filament and then jump over to other light and thats it? .

Yes and yes.

So, have you inspected the inside of the questionable sockets with a small light?

Wed Dec 15, 2010 7:41 pm

joemac wrote:

So, have you inspected the inside of the questionable sockets with a small light?

You do realize that such advice requires mastery of yet another light...?

Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:18 pm

Hey, what can I say? I always look at the...ahem...bright side. :lol:

Wed Dec 15, 2010 11:45 pm

yes i have inspected sockets and it really doesnt look offset to me. im thinkin maybe a top socket got put in the bottom housing or sumthin?? who knows i just spent a long time collectin stuff and then years later here i am and im ready to drive this bus finally. ive had my buddy take a look (who has owned busses and currently has a couple vw's) and even he just started laughin cuz he could NOT make it work and he was also of the opine that if i could not install a light bulb i must be a dumbass as well.

im just gunna file a bulb and get a new housing when i get around to it. that housing was in sad shape anyways.

Thank you joemac, clara, barryL, and emeritusx for sharing constructive information. taill lights will b operational shortly and i feel done right. i like the way the euros look as well.

Fri Dec 28, 2012 11:37 pm

Lifted1 wrote: yes i have inspected sockets and it really doesnt look offset to me. im thinkin maybe a top socket got put in the bottom housing or sumthin?? who knows i just spent a long time collectin stuff and then years later here i am and im ready to drive this bus finally. ive had my buddy take a look (who has owned busses and currently has a couple vw's) and even he just started laughin cuz he could NOT make it work and he was also of the opine that if i could not install a light bulb i must be a dumbass as well.

im just gunna file a bulb and get a new housing when i get around to it. that housing was in sad shape anyways.

Thank you joemac, clara, barryL, and emeritusx for sharing constructive information. taill lights will b operational shortly and i feel done right. i like the way the euros look as well.

FYI anyone doing a search....
I have the european rear tailamp housing, and apparently the dual filament bulb that is supposed to go in this bulb holder should NOT have offset nibs on each side.
(OR my bulb holder has been hacked, which would not surprise me)
Twice now I have had to just file the one closer to the base off with a metal file..

I had to cut off one nib from each 1157 bulb to get it to fit my bulb holder.

Sat Dec 29, 2012 12:55 am

My bus came with dual filament brake/running lamp 1157 bulbsin euro housings. Fits just fine. Yellow turnsignal up top takes single filament bulb. 1156? Also fits fine. Dunno why somebody would hack the bottom brake/parking lamp socket. Hack it for what? Inspection is in order here. Damaged dented houisings? Issues with the back sides of housing terminals preventing bulb from entering housing far enough? Still cant see why anyone would Jb weld or somehow hack a housing.