High Beam Flash, but cannot get the beams to stay on?

Tiny
ALAN WOLVERTON
  • MEMBER
  • 2011 VOLKSWAGEN CC
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 154,000 MILES
When I pull back on the high beam lever the high beams will come on as long as I pull back, but when I push forward they will do the same but not stay on. The solid white wire on the round headlight switch connector is connected at the switch but not connected under the dash and appears to have come disconnected. What is this solid white wire and where is it supposed to be wired into? I cannot find a wiring diagram anywhere to show me the wiring of this switch and where the wires lead after the switch.
Saturday, October 15th, 2022 AT 8:58 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 51,648 POSTS
I don't see a white wire around the switch, but I do see one going to the headlight control module. Here are the headlight wiring diagrams so you can see how the system works. But it sounds more like the switch went bad. Here is how to change it out in case you need it. Check out the images (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem.
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Sunday, October 16th, 2022 AT 12:47 PM
Tiny
ALAN WOLVERTON
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  • 4 POSTS
I took photos of the connector. The white wire is shown upper right in pin #5 on the connector. The wire is solid white and had a stripped end that had to have been in a connector. It is separate from the other wires and was not wrapped in the black tape. But then again one of the mechanics may have pulled it out when they were trying to locate the problem and gave up. I just need to know where it goes. I have replaced the round switch in the dash, checked every fuse location and fuse, replaced the electronic control module shown (lower unit) and the steering wheel cluster in entirely, unhooked the battery and did the standard wait 30 minutes, overnight etc, etc. It has to be this loose wire that makes the high beams operate. The high beams will flash (operate) without the switch being plugged into the small connector. The high beams will flash when the lever is pushed forward but will not remain on which leads me to believe it is a relay wire, but to where? Thanks for any help.
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Tuesday, October 18th, 2022 AT 3:37 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Is that by chance a white and yellow wire? Is this a euro car? Can you follow the wire down to where it goes? I cant find a white wire except for the driver side door pin switch.
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Wednesday, October 19th, 2022 AT 12:22 PM
Tiny
ALAN WOLVERTON
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
It is a US car. VIN in photo. Video of wire and switch. The wire is only connected to the switch and is loose on the other end with a stripped end. I have taken the connector off and it is in the #5 pin position in the female connector. My question is for the sake of sanity; where does the #5 wire connect (any color) that originates from the switch shown in the video (white at present)? Thanks
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Thursday, October 20th, 2022 AT 5:29 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Thanks for the video. Sure the #5 wire is white and yellow, but who knows maybe they ran out of just white wire, this wire goes to the vehicle system electronic control module. So, they pulled that wire out or did someone just add it. It does not look factory to me.
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Thursday, October 20th, 2022 AT 11:34 AM
Tiny
ALAN WOLVERTON
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I think I just came loose, and the mechanic tried to trace it back. Do you know where in the module it would go? I'm at a loss. If there is no " white" wire and it shows a white yellow. Heck I'll go with that! Thanks
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Thursday, October 20th, 2022 AT 4:15 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, pin #21 on the module. The module is located under the driver's side relay center. Let me know what you find.
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Friday, October 21st, 2022 AT 11:26 AM

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