Rear hatch light was not working so I took it out and found a jumper from the PO. Removed the bare jumper wire and could not get continuity. It seems the lens is designed to be directional and is off when centered. I cleaned the small ball bearing and spring and rolled the lens to make contact and did finally get continuity. Put the light back in the rear hatch and it is not switched. It only comes on when the door is opened. There must be a switch in the hatch that I am missing and what purpose does the swivel in the lens really serve except to make the light complex? Well, at least it works now, but it seems that there must be more going on that I don't see.

 

The hatch lights (both of them) are part of the whole interior light circuit. They all operate (if set to) when either door or the hatch is opened.
They have 3 positions - off (center), always on, on when door is open. I can never remember which way is which.
They have 3 wires - red (always hot) brown (always ground) brown/white stripe (switched ground). There won't be continuity to ground on the brown/white wire unless the door or hatch switch is closed (closed circuit, door open).

The interior light switch in the hatch is located in the latch mechanism. If you push down on the plunger in the receiver (the part in the body) the lights should go off.

 

Center off, one side is permanently on, the other side is door switched. The is no other switch - wiring issue? If you connect them wrong they don't work correctly (shock! - but may work partly...) . Red (or Green in hatch) goes to the bulb end, Brown goes to the frame contact, Brown/White (or White in the hatch) goes to the switched contact.

These are really not very good quality for the long haul, the VW versions Roger (ROG100) sells from late model Golf are much better, different switch action, better insulation, better coverage of the interior trim, better looking, available in different colors. You do need an adapter pigtail connector

For those Porsche purists who wouldn't install a VW part on their 928 - the stock 928 interior lights (by Hella) are also used on the VW Vanagon and other early VWs - so hardly exclusive - just get over it.

Alan

 

 

Thanks guys! I pulled the electric opener out as it was toast. I obviously disconnected the light switch at the same time. Threw the baby out with the bath water. I will revisit that and see if I can get the rear hatch light switch back.
Thanks again,
Joe