Dave Moak wrote:

> 1997 GTI VR6 DE
>
> Yanked the DRL relay, installed the fog light jumpers. Still have the stock
> switch. Mods were done about four months ago, and last week was the first
> hint of trouble.
>
> OK, here's what happened. Some time last week, the headlights started
> working intermittently. When I turned the switch, the headlights failed to
> come on about half the time. Over the weekend. I was driving with the
> headlights on and they just went out.
>
> Now they won't come on at all. The parking lights do illuminate, as do the
> taillights, and the fog lights will come on with the jumpers in place. When
> I yanked the jumpers and re-installed the fog light relay, the fogs would
> not even come on. Unfortunately I lost the DRL relay, so I haven't been able
> to try that.
>
> When I pull the stalk and hold it, the brights (and only the brights)
> illuminate, but they go out when I let the stalk go.
>
> I checked the fuses and bulbs, all of which are fine.

My money is on the headlight switch, the high/low switch, or a loose
connection someplace (in that order).

The headight switch should be easy to pull and test.  According to the
schematics:

There are three "heavy" wires in the harness to and from the headlight
switch.  One is red/yellow, one is black/yellow, one is black/white.

Red/Yellow should be hot all the time.
Black/Yellow should have power when the ignition is on (but not when you
crank the starter).
White/black goes directly (more or less) to the headlight low beams.

Pull the headlight switch.  Verify voltage on Red/Yellow and
Black/Yellow.  If you can't get anything on Black/Yellow, it points
towards the load reduction relay and it's circuitry, but I doubt that's
the problem because I think there are some other things that wouldn't
work if it were...

If Black/Yellow is OK, find a way to jumper from Black/Yellow to
White/Black.

Headlights on?  Bad Headlight switch.  Buy a Euro Switch. <g>

Headlights not on?  Bad connection, or bad high low switch.  I doubt you
want to chase either of these yourself.   Buy a DRL relay (or find
yours), put everything back to stock, take it to the dealer and let them
figure it out.

Best,

-Uwe-


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>My money is on the headlight switch, the high/low switch, or a loose
>connection someplace (in that order).
>
You win! It turns out it is the switch. Many thanks for saving me trip to
the dealer. I guess this is a good excuse to finally order a Euro switch
(not to mention a Bentlet manual).

In the meantime, at least I have a way to make the headlights work.

Thanks again.

Dave

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