problem lights on dash goes off

i have had this problem on several of my cars every thing works fine untill i turn the lights on then all the light,s on the clocks,mfa red oil light water light stop working on the clocks any ideas anyone thanks paul o its a 83 gti or should i say was

Could be bad earth
Or clocks
Would check earths first top fuse box

Hi mate had exact same thing and it was the earth to the coolent flange at the side of the cylinder head. Ive seen some to the rocker cover instead. Check all the connectors are clean and tight fit

Earth wire brown/white from the head to coil mounting bracket bolt via earth braid.
Thats if its the same as the cabby wiring.

thanks for the replays i have had the wiring loom out and re routed and chopped as I'm running an abf on carbs so the earth wire will come from the instrument block on the loom you think

I think but not sure the earth for the clocks is pin 2 on the clock connector it's self, should be a brown wire??
Check your wiring though to make sure.

you can make a better earth by putting a new earth behind the clocks on the bulk head, by using a self tapper, ring terminal and then splice onto the brown wire at pin 2, make sure all is clean.

i had this problem few weeks ago and it was a loose earth on the engine

:wink: ,thanks will try putting the earth behind the clocks see if it sorts

Did you manage to fix this?  

I have the same issue with my sisters Mk1…as soon as pin 58b on the headlight switch gets power the clocks die

Sorted mine this morning, sure enough an earth (brown with white strip & red plug) near the fusebox wasnt plugged in…

thanks for the heads up in this thread guys

an big thank you to Shughy for linking me up with the Bentley for Cab/Scirocco 16v

vr6will said

Sorted mine this morning, sure enough an earth (brown with white strip & red plug) near the fusebox wasnt plugged in…

thanks for the heads up in this thread guys

an big thank you to Shughy for linking me up with the Bentley for Cab/Scirocco 16v

Glad you got it sorted mate

im now having a problem with my remote central locking if anyone can help? when i press unlock it unlocks the doors and then locks them again, loose connection or earth could be the problem?

vwallen91 said

vr6will said

Sorted mine this morning, sure enough an earth (brown with white strip & red plug) near the fusebox wasnt plugged in…

thanks for the heads up in this thread guys

an big thank you to Shughy for linking me up with the Bentley for Cab/Scirocco 16v

Glad you got it sorted mate

im now having a problem with my remote central locking if anyone can help? when i press unlock it unlocks the doors and then locks them again, loose connection or earth could be the problem?

The central locking issue is more likely to be that the solenoid/operator isn't getting enough travel.  The little most common motor type (assuming its an aftermarket mod) is a five wire unit.  A pair of wires that the polarity is reversed to either open or close the doors, then a three wire arrangement that consists of a common and a feedback for open or closed.  If there is inadequate movement for the switch the controller may think that the door is still locked, then the controller moves back to the locked position.  Highly likely that the solenoid/motor unit in the driver door has moved or the unit that connects to the door button has came loose.  I used to fit these and remove the button which allowed me to connect directly into the door lock mechanism. Take door panel off to investigate.