Silly New buy with a whole list of problems PLEASE HELP

Hello,

I stupidly picked up a mk1 today and after driving it home i've discovered a whole list of problems! and now stuck with it, so really need to fix everything.

If anyone can help with any of the issues i would greatly appreciate it.

1. Front lights only seem to be working on the dimmed setting
2. Full beam not working
3. Dash lights not working
4. Needs gas to get starting every now and then
5. Rough lumpy idle when warm
6. misfiring when revved high

I know, I know, I'm a *&^&%*$&% idiot for buying it and not picking up these problems! It just went through the MOT so i assumed all was well.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Luke

Forgot to say, It's a 1982 1.6 GLI cab

1. Front lights only seem to be working on the dimmed setting- could be the headlight switch, check all bulbs are connected/seated properly and have not gone. (look at filaments)

2. Full beam not working- again could be bulbs or connections, does the stalk feel how it should for main beam when you flick it?

3. Dash lights not working- all of them? could be bulbs or a bad earth, there should be one connected from coil to back right of rocker cover, check  and clean it.


4. Needs gas to get starting every now and then- could be a break in the vaccumn pipes to/from the carb. Take airbox off and have a look.


5. Rough lumpy idle when warm- see No. 4

6. misfiring when revved high - see No.4.

Also give the carb a blast of carb cleaner, check firing order and that plugs, leads, dizzy cap and rotor arm are all in decent nick.

Hope this helps you, probably a couple of hours work to sort them all.

have you checked the fuses for the lights?

1 & 2 could be the flasher switch, or the light switch. id lean towards the light switch since the dash lights are also not working.

i would start by checkign for 12v at pin X with the ignition on, yel/black wire. this feed comes direct from the ign switch pin X.

next step check the whitye/black wire gets 12v when the switch is pressed 2 clicks, you'll need to leave the plug connected and pop the multimeter in the back of the plug to check for this.

for the dash lights, do your number plate lights work?

spluke said

 It just went through the MOT so i assumed all was well.

Really…???

Sounds like a back hander. No way it would have passed without headlights.
The running issues wouldn't be MOT fail unless they impacted emmissions.

The lights could be something tempremental that they got working for the MOT, but now they are playing up again?
Check your fuses first, then check the points raised above by rubjohnny…

Hello,

Thanks for all the comments so far.

I've now sorted the headlights and main beam, was a loose connections from behind the switch.

The running issues have seemed to changed now. It now revs to high, around 2000 when warm! I've also noticed a strong smell of petrol. On my mk2 i had this but not quite as bad.  

I'm going to give it a full service this weekend and change all the normal bits including fuel filter and thermostat. Do you think my problems could relate to injectors at all? was thinking of sending them off for cleaning.

Still got no dash lights. I will check about the number plate light when back from work. If that's also not working what would you suggest?

I checked all the fuses and they all seemed fine. bought a batch of new ones though so will swap some round. Didn't realise when i bought the car they were going to be the continental fuses.

Thanks for all the advise so far.

My plan is to get it running tip top, even if i have to spend an arm and leg on it.

Anyone know how much roughly tuning it would cost?

thanks,
Luke

if the plate lights are working you know the problem isnt the switch output, since they both get a feed from the same place. it may be an issue with the dimmer or the grey/blue wire from the switch to the rest of the lights

Smell of petrol could be an injector seal, cheap and easy to change injectors just pull out.

Tuning cost me about 40 quid last year, paid for itself in fuel cost savings.

Hello,

Sorry been a bit slack with the car recently.

Checked the number plate light, it's working fine. Going to be having a go at sorting the lights out on sunday. As it's all the dash lights i can only assume its the feed.

I'l get some new seals in a sec and hopefully that will sort it. Still trying to pick a good time to send the injectors off to be cleaned. I don't think there is much point getting tuned until i've got all the problems fixed, do you?

Thanks again,
Luke

ok cool, the feed to the dimmer is working on the switch at least, so id say either the dimmer unit or the grey/blue wire is at fault.

you could try bridging a bit of wire between the black/yellow wire and the grey/blue wire, then if the dash lights come on when you switch on the ignition you know its the dimmer. if not its a break in the wiring, or all the dash bulbs have blown

Yes I'd get the injector leak sorted before getting it tuned.

Managed to have a quick look over the weekend and the wiring all seems to be fine. Going to get a new dimmer switch off ebay and also a couple of bulbs just in case.

Just about to order new injector seals as well.

Will update once i have new parts.

Just went on gsf for the injectors seals and 1 costs £5.40, is the right? i read on here that they are about 60p each.

be one of these 2,pretty sure its the cheaper one:

Unbenannte Seite

Thanks, just ordered four of the cheaper ones.