Water Cooled VW Virgin

[Device]

Last night i picked up a 1984 VW GTI 8V for nothing. So i am a first time owner of a watercooled VW.

My question was going to be concerning Instrument lights not working.? Cant see speedometer and rev counter.

Indicator light, ignition, high beam lights and digital clock are working fine. lights behind heater switches light up ok. Dimmer switch works

Was going to ask if it could be just the bulbs that have went. Or is there a fuse i should be checking for as there are no bulbs working and petrol gauge is not moving.

But the sticky post (which i hope is my problem) and 'GTI Dash lights and not the bulbs help!' post (which i hope is not my problem) have answered that i think.

Noticed on top right hand corner of instrumental display a long plastic switch thing that you turn to a 1 or a 2. Want is this for? No mention of it in the explosive daigram of dash in the haynes manaul.

Thanks in advance

[Device]

Just notice driving home from work there that the bulbs are ok. ITs when i turn the ignition on that the lights go out.

any suggestions??

thanks

[Rain]

thing on the right with 1-2 on is the mfa are memory presets for the mfa not sure how they work or such but im sure someone on here does as for dash lights easiest way is check all the fuses and if there ok take the dash out and try changing the bulbs easiest way to tell if anything isnt working.

[Device]

Notice this morning when i turn headlights on the rev needle comes down and when you adjust the dimmer switch the rev counter comes down even more.

[Device]

thanks for the reply Rain. take it mfa is the the didgital display. how you set the correct time on it??

The bulbs seem ok rain as when am parked and turn the park light on the bulbs light up, but the minute i turn the key they go off. 

Would the petrol gauge not working more than likely to do with electrics as well. Looks like i may still have to remove the dash then. Ack well cant complain car did not cost me anything and its a solid car.

[the boy mike]

You are supposed to adjust the clock by poking either of the two sprung plastic plungers situated on each side of the LCD display in the instrument pack. Try using a biro; the LH one alters the hours and the RH one does the minutes. If it's like mine, then it won't work
You can pull the fuse out and replace it at midnight if this happens; but it's not ideal.

[Device]

SO thats whatt they two are. Thought at first they had been broken off. Seen on another thread the display had green light background. Assume that on the 84 model its only the digital numbers displayed no fancy green background light. I read your thread mike, did the fuse reset work fror you?Am not too bothered having the right time. More concerned with getting dash lights working right.

Been working late so not had the chance to have a look at the car properly. Am in work the now looking at the Haynes manual wiring diagram, which is always a pleasure in itself (especially when you have been kept up with the neighbours playing #It's a HeartAche# by Bonnie Tyler all night long).

According to my tired eyes, the? bulbs and dash lighting controls are connected to the Sender for the fuel gauge. Well i think its the symbol for the Sender. My fuel gauge is is not working either.

As i found out last night bulbs work until i turn the key. And this morning notice rev needle comes down when put headlights on and comes down even more when i mess about with dimmer switch.

Earth, dirty connection? live wires touching???
Could it turn out to be a #...heartache...#

[Veedubgt18v]

all mfa's are backlit with a green light. i suspect your buld has just gone. and it sounds more and more to me like a dodgy earth somewhere in the ignition/ steering column switches

[Device]

The bulb for the Mfa the same type of bulb as the dash bulbs??

I'll get the wiring daigram out again then and see where earths are.? While am here, is the petrol gauge likely to be a separate issue??

Thanks for the reply Veedubgti8V

[rubjonny]

There are 3 bulbs in the back of the clocks, 2 at the top for the speedo/rev counter and one behind the LCD display.  Sounds like you have a dodgy earth somewhere, which is why the rev counter drops when you switch on your lights etc.

First thing I would try is a new set of dash clocks, can be found cheap on ebay & scrappys.  If you take the tray off under the dash you should be able to get at the plugs for the clocks and if you unplug em you'll have just enough slack to leave the replacement set dangling underneath so you can test em without ripping the whole dash out!

If this works then swap your clocks over, there is a step by step guide below:
http://www.4130-products.com/step/remove/index.htm