Need electrical advise Options

[993inNC]

as I've stated before, I am an electrical ....... dunce. I know the basics and have gone through them and am stumped on where to go from here. Here's where I am. I have half the car pulled apart with regards to wiring. I found the headlight switch to be flaky, but have them working (with pop up function) if I pull the switch just right (ok I'm good with even being there so far). I still have no flashers (have tested the hazard switch and it seems power comes in and goes where its supposed to when actuated (only at the switch though). The blinkers don't work, nor under the guise of the hazzard switch do they work. I have no brake lights and the running lights (next to the back up lights) seem to stay on whether the lights switch is on or not (ignition on).
Also I pulled the front bulbs (looked good) as well as the rear. I pulled the rear housings apart and I when I did, I have lights that come on when they shouldn't, lights that don't come on when they should, and the kicker, if I play with the back up light for instance (push it in harder) all the lights on that side come on (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) clearly something is wrong. Almost seems like I have cross pollinating going on somewhere in the electrical system. Like power is being crossed over to everything but only under certain conditions.

So my Q is......where do I start? Where should I look? Should I scrap the entire harness for either new or refurbed from Pelican (or other)? I was hoping to get this car to where it was driveable while I decide how far to take its reconstruction and since I won't have much time until next summer to do this car right, but this will be a huge setback if I don't get it worked out.

Any guidance will be hugely appreciated.

[r_towle]

I would say no, do not go for a buggy harness.
Just learn this one.

Front lights are grounded at the inner fender on each side...open the hood and you will see it on top of the inner fender, just behind the lights.

Main ground is drivers side up (way up) behind dash on inner fender.

FI ground is in the engine bay, behind the relay board, behind the drivers seat. I think that is the one for the tailights.

If not...look around for a ground in the tailights..I cant remember if there is a local one.
Both license plate lights need to be grounded....the original screw grounds them to the metal in the bumper...but that is all gone now...just run a short new ground lead from the screw on each light...

If your tailights are dirty...meaning the brass sockets that the bulbs fit inside...then you have no grounds and some lights will work, some will not..
I use a dremel with a round wire brush to clean each socket...do it once, do it right, then cover the inner portion of each socket with dielectric grease.

Rich

[993inNC]

I would say no, do not go for a buggy harness.
Just learn this one.

http://www.watsons-streetworks.com/vw.html check this out and see if you still feel that way

Front lights are grounded at the inner fender on each side...open the hood and you will see it on top of the inner fender, just behind the lights.

found them don't seem to be the problem (thus far)

Main ground is drivers side up (way up) behind dash on inner fender.

found it too, not sure its an issue either.....yet

FI ground is in the engine bay, behind the relay board, behind the drivers seat. I think that is the one for the tailights.

If not...look around for a ground in the tailights..I cant remember if there is a local one.
Both license plate lights need to be grounded....the original screw grounds them to the metal in the bumper...but that is all gone now...just run a short new ground lead from the screw on each light...

lic. plate lights are the only ones that seem to work properly and well!

If your tailights are dirty...meaning the brass sockets that the bulbs fit inside...then you have no grounds and some lights will work, some will not..
I use a dremel with a round wire brush to clean each socket...do it once, do it right, then cover the inner portion of each socket with dielectric grease.

Mine are a plastic socket with copper contacts and the bulbs all come on at various times, just not the right times

Rich

See my "so much for......" post, may explain most of my issues. I'm just gonna strip this sucka and start from scratch!