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MFA and eco gauge not working...

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MFA and eco gauge not working...

Hi, this is my first post here. I am from Norway and i am a member of the Volkswagen club there. I have posted this topic there as well, but so far no response. So i hope to get some help from accross the sea:-)

I have a 1,6 cabrio GL with MFA and eco gauge. (Import car from Germany)
But they are not working. There is light in the MFA display, but no digits.
Whate are common problems? And are the MFA and eco connected somehow, since they both are dead?
Or could it be at my instrument panel is not original to my car? (I also have the MFA button on the windscreen wiper arm)

Except from the MFA and eco everything else works.

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I have a look at the instrument panel first

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I had a quick look and could not find any obviuos faults

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The eco I assume you mean MPG guage at the top in the middle. Tbh I don't know of many people having the needle working, mine doesn't and from hearing lots of other people theirs doent either. What you do have on the guage is a amber led which should light up telling you to change gear. If that doesnt work have a look on the top of your gearbox, there should be a wide plug like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-GOLF-MK1-GTI-CABRIOLET-MK2-GTI-REVERSE-LIGHT-SWITCH-C281-/200784293333?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2ebfad2dd5 if it looks something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-GOLF-MK1-CABRIOLET-MK2-1-6-1-8-GTI-REVERSE-LIGHT-SWITCH-BACK-UP-LIGHT-C674-/200750257508?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2ebda5d564 then I would say you have the wrong clocks. If you have the right plug then it could just be faulty. If all of the above is correct, with the mfa display try pulling the fuse, can't remember of the top of my head which one it is now but there is a thread on here with fuse locations. Remove for about a minute and replace this often corrects the fault. If that doesnt work it could be a faulty lcd screen and may need replacing.

Dan

1983 Cabby Gti All White Edition

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Check pin 2 on the dash cluster is earthed, should be brown wire.

Open bonnet and look at the right hand corner Bolt on the rocker cover, there should be a brown white, connected there. Also a earth strap from the same bolt to the coil mounting bracket itself. This earths the dash clocks.

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Thanks for good tips. I will check tomorrow.
But if it turns out that i have the wrong instrument panel, is there a way to find out what type of panel that is original to my car? My local VW dealer could not help me since it is an import.

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I'm not sure but someone else might know, but with having the mfa switch on the stalk all does tend to point to right clocks. Does the amber led light up when you get higher in the revs when driving?

1983 Cabby Gti All White Edition

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Daniel060979 said

I'm not sure but someone else might know, but with having the mfa switch on the stalk all does tend to point to right clocks. Does the amber led light up when you get higher in the revs when driving?

Thats what i thought too.
The yellow light does not light up at all.
Is it possible to change the bulb?

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I do believe you can change the bulbs, think there is another thread here on doing that but if it is duff might just be easier to change the gauge itself or like I said before could be a dodgy gearbox plug. Does seem strange though that everything associated with this sort of setup does not work. I would have a look like you said and check the plug on the gearbox 1st. Its basically located on the box to the right.
Someone else might be able to help with this but thinking now I thought all the mfa stuff came just with the gti's.

1983 Cabby Gti All White Edition

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Daniel060979 said

I do believe you can change the bulbs, think there is another thread here on doing that but if it is duff might just be easier to change the gauge itself or like I said before could be a dodgy gearbox plug. Does seem strange though that everything associated with this sort of setup does not work. I would have a look like you said and check the plug on the gearbox 1st. Its basically located on the box to the right.
Someone else might be able to help with this but thinking now I thought all the mfa stuff came just with the gti's.

I have been searching for information about what kind of models came with the MFA and gear change gauge, but i have not found a good answer.
Maybe someone here knows?

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Thought the mpg gauge works off a vacuum on the back of the clocks there is a pipe.
Is it still connected?

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http://www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=search&mode=results

Have a look through the above, should find something out.

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chortle said

Thought the mpg gauge works off a vacuum on the back of the clocks there is a pipe.
Is it still connected?

Yes it is still connected and runs towards the carburetor

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Check it's not blocked or the pipe split also.

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chortle said

Check pin 2 on the dash cluster is earthed, should be brown wire.

Open bonnet and look at the right hand corner Bolt on the rocker cover, there should be a brown white, connected there. Also a earth strap from the same bolt to the coil mounting bracket itself. This earths the dash clocks.

I have no wire to the bolt on the rocker cover or a connection the the coil….

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Okay,
There is usually a braided earth strap that earhs the clocks via the rocker cover.
This earths the clocks.
Usually a brown and white wire goes to the stud too.
This earths the clock cluster.
I would imagine a similar setup would be on your car, the braided wire goes to the bolt that holds the bracket of the coil to the body work, not the actual coil unit itself.
Does all other functions work in the clocks?
Indicators, etc etc.
If not you could have a faulty voltage regulator that supplies the clock with it's correct voltage etc.

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there are 2 sensors required for the eco gauge, a small vacuum 2 pin unit that sits inline with the dizzy vacuum line, plus a large multi-pin reverse switch. if your reverse switch is 2 pin either you have the wrong clocks, or someone put the wrong gearbox onto it. you also have an oil temp sensor asnd outside temp for the mfa display.

i see you mention 'carb' in your earlier post? if so thats why it doesnt work the carby cars didnt have mfa clusters so the wiring for it wont be there.

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rubjonny said

there are 2 sensors required for the eco gauge, a small vacuum 2 pin unit that sits inline with the dizzy vacuum line, plus a large multi-pin reverse switch. if your reverse switch is 2 pin either you have the wrong clocks, or someone put the wrong gearbox onto it. you also have an oil temp sensor asnd outside temp for the mfa display.

i see you mention 'carb' in your earlier post? if so thats why it doesnt work the carby cars didnt have mfa clusters so the wiring for it wont be there.

Yes my car is a 83 model with a 1,6 carb engine. So i can conlude with that i have the wrong clocks since i have a carburetted engine?

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yup!

Hello my name is John and I'm a dub addict.



My wiring diagrams and other documents have moved here:

VAG Documents & Downloads

You'll need to sign into google/gmail for the link to work! (its free!)

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Ta da, mystery solved.

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