I recently replaced the headlights on my '68 Bug with 65/55 watt Sylvania Halogen headlights. All is fine, except I notice that the fuse contacts on the fuses for the low beams and high beams (whichever I have on at the time) get hot to the touch while the lights are on. The fuse doesn't get hot enough to melt (8 amp fuses), but I was wondering if anybody else has encountered this condition. I don't know if the fuse contacts got hot with the old 60/50 watt original headlights, as I never checked. Has anybody encountered this? Is it normal? Thanks, Larry H
Hot fuse contacts on Bug
Dec 18, 2005
10 Replies
Heat means voltage drop (resistance). Propably due to corrosion or bad contact in the fuse box.
Those fuses have never made good contact with the holders; always been marginal.
If you don't mind the car being non-stock, replace them with newer fuses or circuit breakers:
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are available at any auto parts store. I would put 10 Amp units on each headlamp.
Speedy Jim
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That too, but aren't headlights supposed to use a 16A fuse?
Jan
Nope. There are 4 fuses for headlights. One 8A for every beam: right low, right high, left low and left high.
Thanks, guys.... I think I will clean up the contacts and maybe that will cool things down a bit.... ....Larry H
Then what is 16?
Jan
Come on speedy - sort them out !
Rich
A number.
Ok. Ok. There are two 16A fuses in the box and they are for interior light, wipers, rear window defogger control and fresh air fan (in the 1303 where there is one).
Suddenly all those electrical fires were explained.
Hey guys, I followed your info and took out the fuses, took a wire brush to the contacts and cleaned them up, and all is cool again! It was just corrosion on the contacts. Thanks again, guys. .....Larry H
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