Hellos, i joined because my cars broke ;)

Don't we all do it? Search out forums and clubs when we have problems.
So, I've landed here.. hello

The story is, I have an '83 Golf MK1 Campaign that I have advertised for sale. Only I didn't realise there was a fault with the lights until someone came to look at it (I'd only used it in daylight).
When the headlights are turned on, the rev counter and clock go off. Moving the dash dimmer thingy makes them work a bit (the clock is dim and the rev counter isn't reading high enough).

Does anyone have ideas where to look? A wiring diagram would be really helpful too

I have had this problem.
1.Firstly check the small earthing wire that goes to the back corner of the engine rocker cover, make sure the wire isn't broken.

2. Try and take out the instrument binnacle, or at least move it enough to get your hands behind it and press the mani wiring connector into place, if I remember correctly it is in the bottom right hand corner and about a third of the width of the cluster.

Welcome Kez. When you say the rev counter and clock go off, do you mean the gauges themselves or just the back lighting?

If it's the back lighting it could be the dimmer part of the headlight switch, a new switch would sort it.

If the gauges themselves stop working it could be an earthing issue.

I had the same sort of problem and Mine was a broken earth wire on the back of the engine connecting to a stud on the rocker cover, I fitted a new bit of wire and new ring connector and it worked.

Thank you for the replies people.

I had a look and can't see any earth connection on the back of the engine. Can someone tell me exactly where it is, or show me a photo please?

Hairyarse said

Welcome Kez. When you say the rev counter and clock go off, do you mean the gauges themselves or just the back lighting?

If it's the back lighting it could be the dimmer part of the headlight switch, a new switch would sort it.

If the gauges themselves stop working it could be an earthing issue.

The rev counter stops working. i.e. it stays at 0. If I adjust the dimmer, it picks up a bit, but not much (idle shows as about 200rpm)

Kez said

Thank you for the replies people.

I had a look and can't see any earth connection on the back of the engine. Can someone tell me exactly where it is, or show me a photo please?

Have a look at this post and see if it helps

View topic: Rocker Cover Earth Issues - The Mk1 Golf Owners Club

It's fixed
Thank you so much

Good news!  

Was it a broken earth wire to the rocker cover?

mark1gls said

Was it a broken earth wire to the rocker cover?

Yes, it had snapped off and was hanging down by the gearbox. I would never have found it down there without the photos. Couldn't even see where it broke off from, so i just added a bit of wire and a fresh connected, then bolted that onto the rocker cover.
All working fine now