I have a 1980 diesel rabbit and I don't know what's wrong. Everything electrical will not work, the car overheats within 10 minutes of running and i replaced the thermestat (still over heated) and then i removed it completely and it still over heats. Also, while its running, shifting turns the lights on for a few seconds but refuses to shift into 3rd, when tried, the car turns off and we just slap it into 2nd while its still rolling and it kick starts...then it over heats but it over heats even if we werent driving it (idleing). My friend said it mite be a blow head gasket. if anyone has pics of the engine that runs that would help alot. :banghead:
1980 vw diesel rabbit don't know what's wrong
Jrabbit92
1 - 6 of 6 Posts
I have a 1980 diesel rabbit and I don't know what's wrong. Everything electrical will not work, the car overheats within 10 minutes of running and i replaced the thermestat (still over heated) and then i removed it completely and it still over heats. Also, while its running, shifting turns the lights on for a few seconds but refuses to shift into 3rd, when tried, the car turns off and we just slap it into 2nd while its still rolling and it kick starts...then it over heats but it over heats even if we werent driving it (idleing). My friend said it mite be a blow head gasket. if anyone has pics of the engine that runs that would help alot. :banghead:
Before everyone comes in here with the lolque pictures.. Is the car smoking at all out the tailpipe? If so, what color is the smoke? How many miles are on the car? Head gasket seems to be the best guess based on this interesting description you've given us. I've had to replace mine on my 81 diesel rabbit. It sounds like you have multiple issues though, not just the head gasket. I have no idea what would make your lights turn on when shifting. Most likely just a coincidence and a bad ground somewhere or something.
here's the only picture i have of my motor that is uploaded at the moment. It's in a little better shape now
But it ran perfectly fine like this:
![Image]()
here's the only picture i have of my motor that is uploaded at the moment. It's in a little better shape now
But it ran perfectly fine like this: 
Not sure how pictures of a running engine wouold help but it does sound like a bad head gasket or maybe just the water pump for the overheating.
The electrical is more complicated. Maybe just a bad ground considering the lights flashing when shifting.
What do you mean by "refuses to shift to 3rd, when tried, the car turns off"?
The electrical is more complicated. Maybe just a bad ground considering the lights flashing when shifting.
What do you mean by "refuses to shift to 3rd, when tried, the car turns off"?
Joined
·
730 Posts
Hello welcome to TCL and soon the vwvortex.
http://forums.vwvortex.com/forumdisplay.php?11-Golf-I-amp-Jetta-I
That forum is better suited to your specific questions and exact model type.
Electrical sounds like a bad ground wire. Probably near the battery my Fox had that issue.
Overheating very hard to say without properly backtracing.
Anyways good luck and hope you find an answer to your problem.
http://forums.vwvortex.com/forumdisplay.php?11-Golf-I-amp-Jetta-I
That forum is better suited to your specific questions and exact model type.
Electrical sounds like a bad ground wire. Probably near the battery my Fox had that issue.
Overheating very hard to say without properly backtracing.
Anyways good luck and hope you find an answer to your problem.
smoke does come out of the tail normal smoke. checked all grounds there all good with sucks cause i can't find anyother reasons it doesn't work and the pics just seeing if I'm missing any parts so yeah good pic and close ups are good
1 - 6 of 6 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
