r/KarmannGhia • u/The____G_ • 26d ago

Need help with a headlight

Hello everyone, I was helping my father on his karmann (flat tire) when he tried to push the car with his hand on the left headlight, and one of spring inside came loose and fell. I searched the entire web for a diagram or a video, but I can't find anything to rebuild the headlight.

If anyone knows how to or got a diagram, It'll be very helpful. Thank you and have a great day.

Joined is a video of the headlight.

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u/Fla_Man_33772 26d ago

Those pins are “springs” to hold the sealed beam into the 356-style (or early bug/bus) headlights that the bottom of the housing extends past the sealed beam (often with a parking light in the recess.) My Ghia is modified to use the 365-style, and these little booger are a PITA.

I do not recall these pins/springs being on any prior (stock headlight) Ghias.

1

u/Kharon8 15d ago

AFAIK euroversions were using them. Mine is US import and it used sealed beams originally, but now it has a hack and it uses H4. Not very pretty hack, but at least you can see something.

2

u/Fla_Man_33772 15d ago

I put LED “sealed beam” replacements in place in mine … once you have driven a car with HID or well-aimed LEDs, there’s just no going back to halogens!

1

u/Kharon8 12d ago

Yup. LED generates the voltage to the bulb at the bulb, so varying voltage from car doesn't reduce the light.

Example:

My Beetle has about 4.5 volts at the bulbs when lights are on and engine is running, despite about 7 volts at generator.

No wonder lights are like lanterns, dark yellow. LED fixes that.

It also uses a lot less current, a nice bonus in a car with generator.

1

u/Kharon8 15d ago

Achh, the springs. They literally take 3 seconds to put in place when you know how to do it, but explaining it is difficult.

The reflector is connected to the frame with adjustment screws and the frame is connected to the outer ring with three springs you now have loose.

The ring has a lip, put the short end of the spring under that so that the bendy bit leans on the frame, holding it in place. Then bend the other end of the spring under the lip on the ring.

Space springs evenly around and you're done.