71 beetle, new headlights/wires burning up!!!

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71 beetle, new headlights/wires burning up!!!

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Volkswagen >> VW MODELS >> Volkswagen Beetle >> 71 beetle, new headlights/wires burning up!!!

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71 beetle, new headlights/wires burning up!!! - 8/14/2007 6:31:30 PM

chris j.

Posts: 1
Joined: 8/14/2007
Status: offline

Hey guys my name is Chris and im new to the forum. I have a 71 beetle with a 64 front end. I purchased these head lights.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/59-79-Volkswagen-Beetle-Diamond-Cut-Headlight-63-67-71_W0QQitemZ250153391121QQihZ015QQcategoryZ33710QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

When I installed them, everything went fine until I turned them on! All of a sudden I saw smoke and quickly turned them off! It burnt the harness for the headlights needless to say :( The wires that are on there now is not factory. The wires are very thin and look like kite string! Could that be the problem? I just need to know how I can get these lights to work without causing a fire! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

Best Regards, Chris.

Post #: 1

RE: 71 beetle, new headlights/wires burning up!!! - 8/28/2007 4:05:00 PM

finbar06

Posts: 50
Joined: 8/24/2006
Status: offline

polarity is wrong. like positive and negitive i assume you are using a twelve volt system for power supply
dissonnect and test each wire end individually .

(in reply to chris j.)

Post #: 2

RE: 71 beetle, new headlights/wires burning up!!! - 11/5/2007 4:34:54 PM

Smokin Dog

Posts: 286
Joined: 10/25/2007
Status: offline

The original wireing on the bug was barely efficient, if
you have installed brighter lights like Halogen or some other super head lights they would almost over load the
wireing. If the wireing has been replaced with a smaller
wire, then it's not heavy enough to handle the extra load,
and it will surely smoke.

(in reply to finbar06)

Post #: 3