GTi Econometer / Gear Change Indicator

Only just purchased my 1983 GTi Campaign but whilst driving the car back from Ireland, where I purchased it, I noted first of all that the GTi had an econometer fitted which I was surprised at.  The gauge is present but there is no evidence of a needle - or at least if there is one it is not moving!  Also the gear change up light is on all the time when I am in top gear (?) - the handbook suggests this should not be the case.  Any thoughts????

Most likely to be a blocked or leaking vacuum pipe which feeds it.  Mine was like it for years until I recently fixed it, I thought the pipe was disconnected behind the instruments so didn't bother, but replacing the rubber outer cover where the clear pipe connects in near the distributor) fixed it.  

The gear change light should come on when it's more economical to change up, and the needle only appears when in 5th.

The needle should only work in fifth gear and the light should only indicate from 1st to 4th gear when high vacuum is present but not on the over run. (There's a separate switch just off the vacuum pipe on the dizzy which tells the system to ignore the overrun)

My only query is why the light is on permanently in fifth gear. I would have thought it would still be going off under heavy acceleration. If that is actually the case I would suggest checking the switch on top of the gearbox which tells the system which gear the car is in.

When mine was faulty, the light stayed on continuously in 5th, now fine.

1st check would be to see if it has the right gearbox, for the econometer & light to work you need the multi pin switch not the 2 pin as found on later cars

Plenty of clues also in the FAQ section. Loads of folk have had various issues. It'll give you a fair bit to work through.

I recently noticed this yellow light come on while driving in traffic. It stayed on for about 10 mins then went off under breaking. 

I was through the gears when I first noticed it but it's the first time I've seen it on. I've had the car over a yr and this is the first I've see it.

I never thought this was connected as it's an abf conversion  but it appears to be connected to something. It's gone off now but reading the manual it says it can also link to low coolnt level?

the low coolant level warning is the red coolant warning light that flashes on ignition, its the same as the over-heat warning.

have a look in the bay for any 2 pin plugs with red/white and brown wires, maybe they were left hanging about and are shorting.

you can pull the #5 relay from the fusebox which controls the light if you dont have the right gearbox fitted, that should stop it