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Mon May 30, 2011 11:16 pm

The left headlight on my 1973 Thing recently went out. The manual calls for a 6014 replacement headlight. The girl at my local auto parts store assured me that a Sylvania H6024 headlight (halogen) would work just fine. I installed the new headlight but it does not work.

Seems to me there are 3 possibilities:
1) The 6014 and H6024 headlights are not actually interchangeable.
2) The 6014 and H6024 headlights are interchangeable, but I got a bad bulb.
3) the problem is not with the headlight (so far I've just checked for juice, and the headlight is getting 11V).

Any suggestions?

Mon May 30, 2011 11:27 pm

#3, it is in your wiring. You can double check the head lights on the side that is working. The ground is the first culprit in Things

Tue May 31, 2011 12:41 pm

Not to thread jack here, but I am also having a bit of a headlight issue. My headlight bezel is completely rotted out on the passenger side, which allows the light to shake quite a bit. Installed a new light in there but it quickly went out again. I believe it is from the vibrating and shaking while driving.

I purchased a used bezel and light at Bug Out over the weekend, tried to install it and once it was mounted in the headlight was so low in the fender that the chrome ring would not fit back on. I compared the two bezel's to find they were completely different. I believe the used bezel is from a Beetle, but not exactly sure.

I was able to get a Hella number off the ring that holds the light to the bezel and it's SB12. It is stamped right into the polished retaining ring right next to the word HELLA. I think the bezel I got at Bug Out was SB154 or something like that.

Could someone please snap a picture of a 1973 headlight bezel for me, and possibly check the number thats stamped into the polished retaining ring for me? Since this was a headlight question thread I thought it might be OK to post in here, if i am violating let me know and i will remove my post and start my own thread. Thanks in advance!

Tue May 31, 2011 3:32 pm

SomeThing.... X2 what Ferret said. Check that ground.... the brown wire. Also check that the fuse connections are clean and snug to the fuse.
Lastly... the 6014 and 6024 are completely interchangeable...
6014 = incandescent (Dim)
6024 = Halogen (bright)
And should be replaced in pairs.

Remember you have FOUR fuses for the headlights. One for each low and one for each high.

One last bit...
At your 3 way connector at the headlight...
Brown = ground
White = high beam
Yellow = low beam

Irish.... The Thing/181 bezel/trim ring is NOT thing specific. It is a Beetle/Type 3 part.
Also it does NOT retain the headlight in any way shape or form.
The headlight is held in by the "Adjusting Bucket".

Here's a pic, installed, MINUS the trim ring...

Here's a link to a new unit...
http://www.airheadparts.com/vintage-vw-parts/headl...-141941041

Tue May 31, 2011 4:47 pm

Thanks, by trim ring I was referring to the bezel's trim ring with 3 screw's, not the exterior chrome trim cover that fastens with one screw. I must have some other issue than because when I installed the new bezel it was so low I physically could not mount the exterior chrome ring.

Tue May 31, 2011 5:48 pm

There is room for adjustment in the adjusting bucket. Try loosening the three screws that secure the bucket to the fender then moving things around.

I've had to use a drill to open the mounting holes in the bucket to get enough adjustment.

Also the aftermarket trim rings don't fit worth a damn. :evil:

Eric

Tue May 31, 2011 8:47 pm

Uber, that was uber-helpful! Turns out to be a bad fuse -- didn't burn out, just gave up. Replaced the fuse and now I have 2 headlights again. And I will go out and get another halogen headlight to have the nice, bright lights ASAP. My Thing deserves it. :-)

Out of curiosity, let's say the fuse wasn't the problem and it really was the ground wire. Presumably that wire doesn't carry any voltage, right? So how would I tell if something is wrong, if the wire itself looks OK wherever I can see it?

Thanks again for the help!

Wed Jun 01, 2011 6:49 am

SomeThing wrote: Out of curiosity, let's say the fuse wasn't the problem and it really was the ground wire. Presumably that wire doesn't carry any voltage, right? So how would I tell if something is wrong, if the wire itself looks OK wherever I can see it?

The easiest way is to make a "jumper" from the headlamp to a ground source you know is good and see what happens. If the headlamp works you have a bad ground. If not its likely a problem with the voltage side.

Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:11 am

Great! Now I'll know for next time. Thanks.

Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:24 am

SomeThing wrote: Out of curiosity, let's say the fuse wasn't the problem and it really was the ground wire. Presumably that wire doesn't carry any voltage, right? So how would I tell if something is wrong, if the wire itself looks OK wherever I can see it?!

Technicality the ground does carry voltage back to the battery (or from the battery, depending on the prevailing argument amongst quantum theory folks!)

How to check was the question....
Use the ground at the connector to ground your volt meter or test light.
If using a meter, compare your measured voltage to battery voltage.
You could also measure the resistance of the ground wire.

Always happy to help,
Eric

Wed Jun 01, 2011 3:57 pm

minor addition Bay bus uses that same trim ring as Thing also.

Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:45 pm

kubelmann wrote: minor addition Bay bus uses that same trim ring as Thing also.

Kinda.
While interchangeable, the "Correct" bus headlight ring has a drain hole in what would be the side of the Bug/Thing/Type 3 since the bus mounts them sideways.

Thu Jun 02, 2011 6:04 am

While you are technically correct
The Bus Boys sell a 211 941 11A Headlight ring

Everyone else list this part as a BEETLE 67-79 / BUS 68-79 / TYPE 3 62-74 / THING pn 311941111A some folks (like airhead parts) will mention the need to drill a drain hole with this part for bus use. Since this part was used on a T-3 since 62 its parts origin comes as "311" part number.