1961 Bus Warning Lights

KSC2-303 · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 11:32 am Post subject: 1961 Bus Warning Lights

Ive recently bought a 1961 VW Bus. I'm pretty m,uch a newbie to the classic VW scene and I have no idea what the warning lights on the speedo mean. There are three, two of wich are on; a red one on the left, and a green/yellow one on the right. Obviously there is one in the middle aswell, but that is not lit up. Please could someone tell me what they mean?

ElusiveStranger · Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 12:07 am Post subject:

One's an alternator light, the other is oil light. I can't help with the middle one, sorry!
If they dont' go out when you start your engine, turn it off. Both will be fatal.

A few suggestions for you:
1/ Join your local VW club
1/ Buy John Muir's "Keep your VW alive - for the complete idiot" (no, I'm not kidding)
3/ Check out http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/ if you look in the Tech section, Moby, Clarkson & Speedy Jim (no particular order) are demi-gods!

HTH
_________________
The advice you receive on here is worth the paper it's written on.
Your experiences are worth shed loads to others, including the f'ups - live and learn.
Wouldn't YOU rather learn by someone else's mistakes? So would they.

'78 Bay, 2 litre 091 box, EJ20 NA & the ashtray's on the 'right' side.
I don't lean forward for hills any more Grin

Bugger, missed out on "Live fast, die young"

Joel · Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 1:11 am Post subject:

splittys had pretty much the same speedo setup as beetles

the red light on the left is the charging system warning light
middle one is the idiot light for the turn signals
right one would have been green originally but they fade to yellow over time is the oil pressure warning light

vw didnt start labeling the lights till the late 60s
they just assumed people knew what they were

easy way to remember oil light from charge/generator light is they are alphabetical from left to right

ie G for generator comes on the left before O for oil on the right

hope that helps
_________________
1974 1303 Germanlook Suba-Beetle
Subaru EJ254, BoostR 17", 4 Wheel discs, Topline suspension and A/C

KSC2-303 · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 9:41 am Post subject:

Thanks for the replies guys, both have helped. I have just bought the book suggested and have already been looking for local VW clubs.

ElusiveStranger · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 2:36 pm Post subject:

Where are you?

Whispers, there's a club section bit on Vzi, tell Bri VWKD sent you Wink

_________________
The advice you receive on here is worth the paper it's written on.
Your experiences are worth shed loads to others, including the f'ups - live and learn.
Wouldn't YOU rather learn by someone else's mistakes? So would they.

'78 Bay, 2 litre 091 box, EJ20 NA & the ashtray's on the 'right' side.
I don't lean forward for hills any more Grin

Bugger, missed out on "Live fast, die young"