Difficulty

Easy

Steps

11

Time Required

                          10 - 15 minutes

Sections

1

  • European Headlight Switch
  • 11 steps

Flags

Member-Contributed Guide

An awesome member of our community made this guide. It is not managed by iFixit staff.

  • Back2002-2010 Volkswagen Touareg

  • Full Screen

  • Options

  • History

  • Save to Favorites

  • Download PDF

  • Edit

  • Translate

  • Get Shareable Link

  • Embed This Guide

  • Notify Me of Changes

  • Stop Notifications

Introduction

My goals:

  • Don’t destroy the headlight switch - I may want to wire up the rear fog lights some day and I don’t want to have to buy another $80 switch.I don’t feel like spending two hours installing the rear fog light right nowI’ll eventually pull the headlight switch out too far and cause the rear fog light burnt out warnings - so lets prevent that

My solution…open up the headlight switch wiring harness and safely remove the connection inside the plug, tie the wire out of the way, and accomplish the same thing as bending pin 7 on the switch itself, but instead not rendering it useless for future rear fog installations (and increasing resale value of the switch should you ever sell it when you part ways with your Touareg).

The job requires:

  • Euro headlight switchWire cutter (used to snip a zip tie, not cut a wire!)A new zip tie (small one)Small flat blade screw driverSome electrical tape5 minutes

What you need

Step 1

              European Headlight Switch
  • First, remove the existing headlight switch.
  • Turn the switch to the off position (note that this pic was taken with the new light switch already in place).

First, remove the existing headlight switch.

Turn the switch to the off position (note that this pic was taken with the new light switch already in place).

1024

Step 2

  • Push the center of the switch in.

Push the center of the switch in.

Step 3

  • While keeping it depressed, rotate the switch to the right. It will turn slightly.

While keeping it depressed, rotate the switch to the right. It will turn slightly.

Step 4

  • Now pull the switch out of the dash.

Now pull the switch out of the dash.

Step 5

  • Remove the connector from the switch by depressing the release tab and pulling the connector out.

Remove the connector from the switch by depressing the release tab and pulling the connector out.

Step 6

  • Cut the existing zip tie - the original one should be black.
  • Again, this pic was taken after the install was complete, so you’re seeing the replacement white zip tie here.

Cut the existing zip tie - the original one should be black.

Again, this pic was taken after the install was complete, so you’re seeing the replacement white zip tie here.

Step 7

  • Remove the connector from the housing itself. Do this with a small flat blade screw driver.
  • Pry up the locking mechanism and push the connector out of its shell.
  • With the right size screw driver, you can do this in one motion.
  • See the pics showing the housing (already separated from the connector) with the screw driver in place showing the right way to pry the lock open and push out the connector.

Remove the connector from the housing itself. Do this with a small flat blade screw driver.

Pry up the locking mechanism and push the connector out of its shell.

With the right size screw driver, you can do this in one motion.

See the pics showing the housing (already separated from the connector) with the screw driver in place showing the right way to pry the lock open and push out the connector.

Step 8

  • Now with the connector removed, locate socket 7.
  • Remove the socket by pressing the release tab on the socket (see picture) and pulling the wire out of the connector.

Now with the connector removed, locate socket 7.

Remove the socket by pressing the release tab on the socket (see picture) and pulling the wire out of the connector.

Step 9

  • Now fold the wire back up against the harness and use the electrical tape to hold it in place.

Now fold the wire back up against the harness and use the electrical tape to hold it in place.

Step 10

  • Slide the connector back into the housing and replace the zip tie you cut earlier.

Slide the connector back into the housing and replace the zip tie you cut earlier.

Step 11

  • Plug the harness into your new euro headlight switch and push it back into the dash.
  • Rotate the switch to the off position to allow the center to pop back out and engage the lock.

Plug the harness into your new euro headlight switch and push it back into the dash.

Rotate the switch to the off position to allow the center to pop back out and engage the lock.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Cancel: I did not complete this guide.

                                                                                      3 other people completed this guide.

Author

                                      with 3 other contributors 


                    Justin

Member since: 10/27/2012

1,442 Reputation

                                      3 Guides authored                  



                       Badges:
                       11







                                                        +8 more badges

thebigdoan - Jul 11, 2016

Reply

Was the purpose of installing the Euro Headlight Switch, to allow you to have automatic lights? I would like to have automatic lights, thats why I ask.

Izzy Martinez - Nov 21, 2016

Reply

Does this allow you to have the lights off, and not always on.

Cristi Geo - May 21, 2018

Reply

Hi. Which pin is for front fog light? My Touareg wasn’t fitted with front fog light and i need to retrofit them but can’t find the wiring diagram for this light switch. I have European edition of Touareg. Thank you !