Correct clocks

Hi All,

I'm wanted to ask if anybody knew if the clocks in my Mk1 were correct or if somebody may have changed them previously?

its a 1982 gti (marked as GL on the logbook)

the reason i ask, is I've a lot of electrical issues, no lights on the dash, MFA resetting when car turned off, Heat temp light sporadically flashing etc, and I'm about to send not the Auto Electrician to start to fault find, id like to get as many systems working as possible

the dials (oil pressure, voltage etc) also go haywire when i turn on the headlights, and i have a drain somewhere that is flattening the battery.

there is also a MPG gauge which doesn't work, I'm assuming this would work off a vacuum from somewhere?

any help greatly appreciated



 

Providing yours is a 1.8 not a 1.6 then clocks are correct.

If you use the google search for instrument problems/earth etc there will be a variety of suggestions. The MPG vacuum line comes off next to the distributor, the one for MFA digital read out is on the inlet manifold.

Most later cars can have a earth lead to the rocker cover which can cause problems, or even just trying to take the clocks out and press all the connectors tight may solve problem, or earth at glovebox.

I have had most of your issues over the years all cured by the rocker cover earth and the connections at the back of the clocks.

they dont seem fitted correctly what ever they are!
the reset miles button is a little low.
is it a 1.6? or a 1.8?
what fusebox is fitted? old bullet fuses or the newer blade fuses?

RichardHall said

Providing yours is a 1.8 not a 1.6 then clocks are correct.

If you use the google search for instrument problems/earth etc there will be a variety of suggestions. The MPG vacuum line comes off next to the distributor, the one for MFA digital read out is on the inlet manifold.

Most later cars can have a earth lead to the rocker cover which can cause problems, or even just trying to take the clocks out and press all the connectors tight may solve problem, or earth at glovebox.

I have had most of your issues over the years all cured by the rocker cover earth and the connections at the back of the clocks.

thans for the info, ill have a look at the Rocker connection, i think i know which one you mean, is it usually i high resistance issue?

where is the earth in the glove box?

Mike

RichardHall said

Providing yours is a 1.8 not a 1.6 then clocks are correct.

If you use the google search for instrument problems/earth etc there will be a variety of suggestions. The MPG vacuum line comes off next to the distributor, the one for MFA digital read out is on the inlet manifold.

Most later cars can have a earth lead to the rocker cover which can cause problems, or even just trying to take the clocks out and press all the connectors tight may solve problem, or earth at glovebox.

I have had most of your issues over the years all cured by the rocker cover earth and the connections at the back of the clocks.

Thanks for the info, ill have a look at the cable to the rocker tomorrow, where is the cable to the earth in the glove box?

Mike

volkswarren said

they dont seem fitted correctly what ever they are!
the reset miles button is a little low.
is it a 1.6? or a 1.8?
what fusebox is fitted? old bullet fuses or the newer blade fuses?

Well spotted


it is loose and needs refitting,  are the clocks attached to the chassis or to the dash?

the car is a 1.8, and if I'm totally honest, I'm not too sure what fuses they are, ill check tomorrow

may i ask why you ask the style of fuse?

Mike

There are two screws holding the clocks onto the body - you can see the holes in the picture below, plus then the two black tubes you can see at the bottom allow the clocks to tilt forward, or they pull out of their fixings to get the clocks out all together, but you will have all the wiring, speedo cable and vacuum pipes to undo.

This post might help

http://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&id=bodywork-fittings-and_2%2Fdash-removal_2


I would try undoing the screws and trying to pull it out a little and squeeze all the cable fixings tight first - you can see the main connector bottom right.

Deal with one problem at a time.

Check the earth lead to the rocket cover. An easy fix and one an auto electrician would have you paying through the nose for! 

The gear shift orange light works via wires from the gear box and to the 'round thing' near the distributor. 

The MPG needle only works in 5th so you'll need to be driving to check that really.

There is a FAQ thread about the change up/ MPG needle in the FAQ section. 

nunny said

may i ask why you ask the style of fuse?

Mike

Yeah, just the Fact you say it has GL on the logbook, could be a car someone has built, so might explain why you have a few Germlins,
You Have 1.8 MFA Clocks fitted, these were only used with the later Blade fuses, however they will plug into the 1.6 loom, but not work properly.

so I had a little look around today (didn't have long) and it seems the cable to the rocker cover is quite badly corroded and will need to be re-made off… on further inspection, the braided cable on the same bolt, isn't actually attached to anything.. 

Can anyone advise where this should connect, and if it's something I can buy new to replace.

I've also been having problems with the battery losing charge after a few days, could this be related?

The earth braid is connected from the upper corner nut to the coil mounting bracket bolt.

As pointed out poor connection on the clocks plug.

A trick is to unplug the clocks and clean the copper contacts on the blue Mylar ribbon.
Then wrap a couple of turns of insulation over the nib the foil sits over. Then when you reconnect you get a better connection between them.

You just need to measure the distance from the stud to coil bolt. One from other cars from the scrappies should do.

If you have flat battery you need to test your alternators. Output
 Put a voltmeter across the battery terminals with engine running and check voltage. Should be over 13v.
You can get voltage drop from the old wires between the altos out put and the battery.
So check output on alternator too.

If out put is low check belt tension  or replace regulator pack.
Reg pack generally about £7.00.

You can isolate the rogue current draw by connecting a multimeter in 10Amp mode between the battery post and battery lead (-ve), which should show the current being drawn. Pull each fuse in turn until the current drops, then  you will know which item(s) are suspect.

i managed to get a bit of time on the Golf this afternoon.

I went to Halfrauds in the end and purchased a braided earth cable, and replaced the earth connection, i also replaced the crimp terminal on the brown wire to the rocker ( see pictures, i know its a yellow crimp, I've folded the cable 3 times)

still having  problems..

so went digging further…

i managed to get the clocks out, to find someone was even more heavy handed than me and had snapped the 2 mounting brackets of the actual clocks, hence why they were sitting incorrect.

I cleaned up the ribbon terminal, and put the PVC tape on the plastic extrusion as suggested, but to no avail.

well certainly not when it comes to the oil pressure and voltage dials. they still go off the scale when i turn headlights on.

i did notice the dash light around the main headlight switch was illuminated, so hopefully the dash lights are working.

few things, what could be causing the oil pressure and voltage clocks to go wild, (is the amperes clock in the centre standard or has somebody added a new one?)

i also found a stray blue wire around the back of the clocks, i couldn't see anywhere obvious where it went, but on the multi pin there is a spare hole, is that correct? the stray wire has no terminal on, which makes me think it may have snapped off?

re discharging, i will check with a multi meter, the alternator is new and is outputting correct voltage when running.

sorry for the long post

any help will be greatly appreciated..

Ok
The single blue wire tends to be the exciter wire from the alternator. This extinguishers the battery light on the clocks..

chortle said

Ok
The single blue wire tends to be the exciter wire from the alternator. This extinguishers the battery light on the clocks..

I did notice last week the battery light on very dim, I'm not sure if this was pre or post new alternator. Should there be a missing cable on the multi plug? Or is this for the stray blue one?

Mike.

volkswarren said

they dont seem fitted correctly what ever they are!
the reset miles button is a little low.
is it a 1.6? or a 1.8?
what fusebox is fitted? old bullet fuses or the newer blade fuses?

Finally looked at the fuse box, and can confirm they are blade fuses, which is good

Problem found and solved.

i had to send in to the pros..

it seems the vdo dials were earthing through the side lights,

now to put it all back together