⚡️How to Diagnose Random Electrical Problems⚡️- 1972 VW Beetle

This is a retro-custom 1972 VW Beetle that came to me with massive electrical problems. Today I demonstrate how to handle mystery electical draws, generator and oil lights that don't work and charging system components.
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0:00:00 ▶ Dramatic Welcome
0:02:38 ▶ Intro
0:02:53 ▶ Check for Power Draw at Battery
0:03:37 ▶ Check Draw at Fusebox
0:05:57 ▶ Check Accessories
0:06:47 ▶ Fixing Generator Warning Light
0:12:43 ▶ Test Start Attempt
0:13:30 ▶ Oil Warning Light Diagnostic
0:17:42 ▶ Check Charging Voltages
0:18:23 ▶ Rain Break
0:18:59 ▶ Polarizing Generator
0:23:31 ▶ Outro
Theme song (Gearhead) by Kevin MacLeod/Incompetech.com

[@DuckmanCycles]

Do you have as much fun with electrical repairs as I do?

[@vwsandvettes3253]

Heck yeah!

[@jamesk3565]

Hell no, I'm hv certified at my dealership, so I get all the EV bs.....I hate them. But that's my personal opinion. When it's regular ICE electrical issues I love it

[@greglogan73]

Thanks for the video...electrical is never easy unless you know how to troubleshoot

[@DuckmanCycles]

FACT! LoL! Its all about pathways. Most people that can't do electrical, can't read a map either. 😁👍🦆💩

[@paulblack2402]

Nice one Duckman. An interesting little car!! Well done again !!

[@DuckmanCycles]

Much appreciated!

[@andylawton9116]

Thanks good video, not many like this on General Electric problems, few tricks there 👍

[@DuckmanCycles]

Thanks Andy! I work hard on these... lots of stuff just like this in my other videos. Hope you have a look! Thanks again!

[@jeffgoswick7660]

Badass ride there

[@DuckmanCycles]

Thanks man, this car is gorgeous!

[@hankthebugman]

Nice video. Interesting how folks do things to these cars which are intended to improve operation but in fact reduce it. So often it’s wiring, a poor connection, loose terminal, corrosion. Keep these videos coming. I enjoy them very much.

[@DuckmanCycles]

Thanks Hank! You are right, all the things people do these, even down to the band aid repairs, or just leaving stuff broken... lol

[@vwcoco]

I love wiring only cos every beetle I’ve got or owned needs sorting out . Another great video duckman 👍

[@DuckmanCycles]

Thanks man! Its true, people always monkey up these wires over the years lol.... its amazing they still work at all.

[@austin_ballaz]

Bless you Duckman

[@DuckmanCycles]

Thank you sir!

[@johnconnell1424]

Had a few in the past with electrical problems yay.. always a blast lol. Taken my whole dash out couple times before i figured it out 😊

[@DuckmanCycles]

Oh man, dissecting dashboards is never fun

[@nealchristensen1793]

Thank you ! good stuff !

[@DuckmanCycles]

Thanks so much, and I appreciate the comment

[@bradwiebelhaus7065]

Good work.

[@DuckmanCycles]

Thank you very much!

[@vicmdiaz]

great vid!!!

[@DuckmanCycles]

Thank you so much!

[@noelamick2015]

Good diagnoses. I have never heard or seen a generator getting polarized. ESPECIALLY, it turning over?? How? My fastback came with a push button to start it. And a toggle to power the ignition. Got rid of that in a hurry. New ignition key was cheap and easy. Good video Lord Duckman 🦆. Noel

[@DuckmanCycles]

Well, a generator is just an electric motor... really that simple. 😁👍🦆💩

[@DuckmanCycles]

I dont mind push button start switches, great for a little extra security, especially if you hide them. Thanks so much, man!

[@vayabroder729]

Beautiful color; the front edge of the hood is the giveaway for a later model. Love the wheels on it too. Noticed it has the ubiquitous .009 distributor 🤣😂

[@DuckmanCycles]

Yep the hood is definitely a giveaway, that distributor though, I can't wait to throw it for distance LOL

[@jimstewart6145]

nice job.

[@DuckmanCycles]

Thanks! 😁👍🦆💩

[@robertlacob8831]

I don't relish the thought of doing a lot of these self made electrical problems! I really had enough of those back in the day! Working on these newer computer vehicles is bad enough by itself!!

[@DuckmanCycles]

Oh man, fixing someone else's electrical work is always the hardest thing, lol... sometimes its easier to cut it all out and start over.

[@TotoGuy-Original]

i thought you might have forgot about the distributor being wrong but you got it at the end haha i spotted it as soon as i saw it because of your previous video's lol

[@DuckmanCycles]

Thanks, I actually talked about this very car in previous videos, and that problem lol

[@100Jeanluc]

Hi Duckman, Wiring is one of those black arts I don't like to mess with. I'll leave it to the pros, so kudos to you. On an entirely different thought, I watched an ep of Counting Cars the other night and whenever I see Horny Mike, he reminds me of you (obviously you have different hair styles). Hope that's not offensive to you. See you on the next one.

[@DuckmanCycles]

One other person said that sometime ago lol, I think that's actually quite amusing. Horny Duckman! 🤣🤣🤣

[@VWJawbreaker]

How do you really feel about the 009?

[@DuckmanCycles]

(╯°□°）╯彡♖

[@kevinhamling1963]

G'day Lord Duckman, Interesting video. A sure way to end up in the loony bin is to work on someone else's wiring. 😵‍💫 ✌️ Peace Lord Duckman.

[@DuckmanCycles]

Tell me about it, but I've had much worse before, you've seen it here on this channel. Rob's Super Beetle Volksrod. Oh man, that think was a disaster, NOTHING worked right!

[@barackmycat9448]

I had a `73 that I loved but electrical issues. I got in over my head with a new electrical panel.

[@DuckmanCycles]

Oh man, a custom electrical panel does change the rules, but you might rememeber I did one of those last year on my friend's Super Beetle Volksrod.

[@roberthornstein4382]

Alternator candidate multi switch in steering column pre 73 ignition switch horn contact back of steering wheel Those solid state Regulators can Hot short with the case / cover

[@DuckmanCycles]

Sounds like good suggestions, but I'm not the one that gets to decide them. 😁😁😁❤👍🏻🦆💩

[@katmandu8208]

👍🏻🍻

[@DuckmanCycles]

😁👍🦆💩

[@vintage76vipergreenBeetle]

👍

[@DuckmanCycles]

😁👍🦆💩

[@vwsandvettes3253]

I know it is outside the scope of the excellent subject matter presented, but man, WHERE did he get those cool left and right rear view mirrors? I am in the market for a suitable rear view mirror fix for my ol' '59, and although I personally prefer the Vitaloni Tornado or Vitaloni Turbo ones, the originals are unobtanium (I think) while the repros are mostly junk. The owner of the car has good taste IMO. Thanks Glenn - Ted

[@DuckmanCycles]

I keep getting asked that, but I have no idea, they were put on there too many owners ago. I don't much like the way they fit, though. Maybe I'll talk about them and show them up close in the next video.

[@DuckmanCycles]

Sheesh, that was really easy to find lol: amzn.to/3Q3Kx2u

[@hankstertube4190]

ignition switch?

[@DuckmanCycles]

What about an ignition switch?

[@christianmccollum1028]

Those "wiggle & then they will work" electrical connections are the worst kind! So frustrating 😫

[@DuckmanCycles]

Oh yeah! That's sort of what the wipers were doing, more about that in the next video this week! Thanks!