Expert Answers about Volkswagen Vanagon

• Troubleshooting Trailer Lights Not Functioning Correctly When Connected to 1982 Volkswagen Vanagon
• It sounds to me like you are having a ground issue. I would start out by checking to make sure that you are grounding the wiring harness to a clean metal surface. If improving the ground doesn't fix the problem, then the issue may be with compatibility. The converters that you are using may not be compatible with the wiring system on your 1982 Volkswagen. In this case I recommend going with the ZCI Circuit Protected Vehicle Wiring Harness w/ 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector and Installation...
  view full answer...


• Trailer Brakes are Not Working Properly With Both Wires Run to Battery for Power
• Trailer brakes like part # 23-26 in your picture have 2 wires coming out from them. To properly install them you need to connect one wire to your trailer brake controller circuit (unless you are testing them like what you are doing) and then the other wire needs to have a clean solid ground. It doesn't matter which is which, but since you don't have one grounded that is your problem. As far as your trailer brakes go if you can let me know what the problem was that you were having I can...
  view full answer...


• Troubleshooting Running Lights Not Working on a Trailer Towed by a 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon
• The problem could be with the trailer connector. If you used the 4-Pole Trailer End Connector, # 18004, that you have referenced, it may be causing problems. Your 1985 VW Vanagon requires the Taillight Converter Hardwire Kit with 4 Pole End, # 119178KIT. Your Vanagon has separate turn and stop lights, that is called a 3 wire system. Most trailers use a two wire system so a converter like the # 119178KIT is required to convert the 3 wire system down to a 2 wire system. I have included a...
  view full answer...


• Added LED Lights to a 1990 Volkswagen Vanagon and Now Hitch Mount Carrier Turn Signals Do Not Work
• If the lights are flashing rapidly (hyperflash) when you are using the turn signals then what you need to install is a couple of load resistors, # DI34ZR, one each one of the turn signal circuits. This will allow enough load on the circuit to fix a hyperflash problem. So the LED lights on the Van could be the issue and creating more load might do the trick. Using a powered converter could have also taken care of the problem since it provides the power to the additional lights on the carrier....
  view full answer...