mk3 electrical gremlins...

[rapg1000]

Hi there I hope you can help....I cant find answers anywhere!!

I recently picked up a 99 mk3 tdi golf estate. 165k on the clock and straight as an arrow. Drives beautifully. Seems too good to be true.... well.... heres the electical issues list so far...

1. I started finding random windows down after i had parked the car and walked away. (Obviously i had taken the keys out and locked the car!!) It is either one or three. Always the same ones.
2. Twice seen a tiny bit of electrical smoke coming from steering column when starting up.
3. Noticed if i wiggle the key in the ignition in the off position the radio can randomly go on and off.
4. Interior light seems permanently on if the switch is in the position which should go off if the door closes.

I found fuse 14 (the windows one, I believe) which seems fine, then decided to take it out when i left the car in a dodgy area so the windows wouldnt open. You can guess what happened! Yup 3 windows wide open all day!!!!

I hope someone can guide me in the right direction???

Many thanks

Richard

[adamrob69]

the windows is a common problem, just do a quick search, if you took the fuse out though i wouldnt of thought it should lower 'electricaly', so possibly regulator issue, but again hard to believe they all go at same time! check the wires in the door openings.

sounds like you got a dodgey ignition switch, very common issue. Depending how bad it is you may want to replace it.

light staying on is a door switch problem. just open each door one at a time, and press the door switch (small black bit of rubber that pushes in when the door closes) do this on each door and you should find the switch thats causing the problem? could possibly be an earthing fault?

[rapg1000]

thanks for your reply adamrob69,

I forgot to mention the window switches sometimes work without the ignition on and sometimes dont...

I've been searching but havent found anyone with the same prob as me so far!....

So I guess I'll change that ignition switch and hope it all goes away!!

As long as the windows stop opening when I leave it - so I dont get a wet @rse all the time!!

[Adam]

When your wiggling the key in the ignition you could be pressing the barrel down, this provides the radio with power. (With your finger push the barrel in and your radio will come on)

Take each door switch out and give it a spray with WD40.

[mk3-handicap]

Thank you, GTIAdam  That's just explained a radio problem that's been taxing my sanity. So I now can use my radio as long as I'm pressing the lock in. Annoying when I have to give hand signals, but I'll get used to using my left hand for the wipers 

Thanks again.

While we are here, can the electrical switch part of the ignition lock be changed without disturbing the key-lock part and its shear-bolt?

[adamrob69]

i believe to replace it you keep your old barrel (so you can keep your keys) and then replace the switch.