Expert: Sean Halliday - 1/12/2007

Question
I've been having recent problems with electrical peripherals.  Engine starts fine, but usually the following occurs:
- headlights won't come on when switched
- vent fan and a/c won't come on when switched
- rear defroster won't come on when switched
- dash indicator for parking brake remains on when brake disengaged.

All of the above symptoms go away and everything (except headlights in low beam) works fine when I pull the high beam switch and the high beams come on.  Letting go of the high beam switch returns everything to non-working status (including regular beams).

Fuses seem fine; non water damage inside car.  I asked this similar question (without the high beam story added) to an expert recently and he suggested checking the black box in the engine compartment that houses some of the large amp relays.  I can't find this black box and the VW repair manual doesn't mention this item.  

Any suggestions?

Thank you

Answer
The black box would be the power distribution box which houses all your relays.It sounds like you have a bad relay/connection problem.What you will need to do is find the headlight relay and replace it.As for the A/C, heater,park brake i think it all may be connected but you will see what happens when you replace the h/light relay.Im sorry i cant tell you exactly why this car does this as VWs are really strange when it comes to electrics as ive seen them do weird things also.If everything works ok on high beam then i would look at the arm on the steering column as well.Maybe get a used one and try that.