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SpoolinJetta18T

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
ok so i get this 1983 rabbit GTI and on the way home the lights began to dim so i checked the alternator and it was only putting out 9v so i though maybe that was the problem, ok so i replace the alternator but the problem im having is the gas gauge, the temp gauge and the RPM's are not working didnt work when i got the car everything else works on the cluster but that side any ideas? has anyone else here had the same problem..... thank you for the help!


Modified by SpoolinJetta18T at 3:35 PM 7-31-2008
 
#4 ·
FV-QR

I'd redo every underhood ground, and the blue wire coming off the alt. If it isn't charging, the cluster dies off slowly. If it is charging fine...then that would be a ground issue behind the cluster IMO.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
ok so i checked all the ground wires and they are good the car ran good lastnight but the cluster would not work i mean the speedometer did but the electrical part didnt at all has anyone ever had a bad cluster or can it be a fuze? any ideas?
thank you
 
#7 ·
FV-QR

Did you check continuity along the grounds? Resistance? Just because the wires are hooked up doesn't mean they're good
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. Put one end of the multimeter probe on the battery negative, and use the other probe to check the grounds at the connector end. The resistance should be minimal, or at least similar along all points you test. It'll be slightly different, obviously, the further away you get from the batt, but that's ok. If you get zero resistance...then it's not making contact somewhere along the wire.
Could also be some busted tracks on the printed circuit on the back of the cluster...
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#9 ·
Re: (SpoolinJetta18T)

I've never had my tach malfunction from low battery voltage, but I have had the fuel and temp gages appear to not be working when the battery voltage is extremely low. If the battery voltage is real low the temp will be way to the left, and the fuel will read really low. I would check the alternator voltage right on the two battery terminals. You could also check the voltage from the alternator output to the battery positive. Anything more than around 0.5 volts would mean a bad connection between the alternator output and the positive terminal. If the alternator and associated wiring check out, then I would look the the instrument cluster.
 
#12 ·
Re: (SpoolinJetta18T)

I am also having the same issues with my 84GTI and I am also having a issue with the car staying started for longer then 10 minutes or so then will not start again for 15-20 minutes what is going on here any ideas???? Thank you for posting the post you did because I was about to do the same post but wanted to check and see if someone has posted one first and then I found yours. I have not solved the cluster issue but am working on it tomorrow. good luck keep me posted YO!!!
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Modified by dubblicious at 8:03 PM 8-10-2008
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Well Guys good news i did fix the problem on the cluster.... after about 3 hrs of trying to figure it out i almost gave up until i remembered my friend john he races Vw's SCCA as a hobby... so i call him and he tells me that there are some wires but 3 have a cylinder looking divice in them i dont know how to explain it but i will take a pic and post it as soon as i get home. but anyway they are on the front right corner by the battery he told me that sometimes they go bad and that i should put a jumper with a 5amp fuze in it. so i did and wallah!!!! all the gauges came on and they are working good he says thats a quick fix he learned at the SCCA nationals a long time ago. its been 3 days and the gauges still work eventually i will go to the VW dealer and get some of the funny looking cylinder thingy and replace all 3. if anyone can benefit from this or have heard of this quick fix before please let me know if not then i will do a DIY tread. thank you guys......oh yeah by the way John has about 5 MK2 in his house and 2 are SCCA road course ready they are NASTY!!!!!




Modified by SpoolinJetta18T at 1:23 PM 8-11-2008
 
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