no instrment except speedo

hi everyone,

have a problem, which i think i know the answer to but wouldn love to know if any of you guys have had the same prob.

at first the dash was ok and worked 80% of the time. then over time it cut out, and now none of the instrument or warning lights work. all that is except for the speedo, and since thats the only mechanicaly driven device i'm thinking it either the multiplug or the printed curcuit board. still have illuminating lights.

i been told its probly the pcb that gone which is common on old golfs. any ideas where to get one or is it worth getting a new dash fitted?. if it was the multi plug, would all the instruments and lights go at once?

thanx for any advice.

Unlikely to be the multiplug itself I would have thought? Check all fuses ok and check the main earths in the engine bay - particularly the one the attaches to the right hand rear stud of the rocker cover - if that's missing all hell can break loose!

Other than that, you could check if you are getting voltage at the 14-pin multiplug.

It's a fair chance tho that it's knackered and you'll have to get a replacement as they often break at this age. Is it clock set with MFA? Either way don't spend silly money on clocks on ebay as you can buy cheaper elsewhere.

Oh, and welcome to the club! What Golf model have you got - any pics to post?

i dodnt think it s any of the fuses, cos i changed old fuse box for one out of a gti but it didnt make any differance. i have an 83' mk1 golf gl 1.5l engine.

thanx for the welcome. hadnt thought about the earth points, but will check those. i dodnt have a MFA just the standerd dials. with the rev counter instead of the clock.

i have had a far bit of trouble with the electrics on the car, which i can pretty much guess is the old wiring, and have been thinking of replacing it for a while altho i cant afford to really spend mony on the car for at least another year.

cheers for the advice.

It's often time you need on electrics rather than money - you just need a lot of patience to be methodical!

Anyway, goodluck and keep us posted - if continued problems let us know and we shall try and help!

To loose all the electrical items in the clocks sounds like an earth or power problem.  As Hairy sys chek you are getting voltage and that the earth is good.  Also worth swapping the voltage regulator as this may have gone.

whats the voltage regulator? where do i find that? i'm not very good with electrics.

thanx for the tips tho.

Check this thread out

http://www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1277&highlight=voltage+stabiliser

Because of the age of these cars theres a lot of problems with oxidisation on terminals.

Basically they go grey and furry and won't conduct anymore.

I have fixed a lot of electrical problems by unplugging, spraying with electrical contact cleaner and reconnecting.

Get yourself some contact cleaner it's a good start.

F*rd Lighting responds well to this method!

Peter.

hey guys,

update on the dash prop, finally got it sorted. replaced the voltage stabaliser, which as far as i can tell was faulty. gave it a test but still nothing! ahhhh!

after pulling my hair out a bit, i decided the only thing left to do was test every circuit individually. finally found that it was a broken track on the pcb. the supply to the stabaliser. (black wire on the multiplug, either 1 or 14.) had to soler a bypass wire to it.

gave it another test and bobs your uncle fully working dash!!! yay! only prob now is i seem to have lost the illumination light for the spedo. there was black wire which i think was the power solderd to one of the lights, and another which was just fixed to the instruments. anyone know if its an eart wire or if there should only be one?

thanx guys.

andy