Mk1 GTI Cabby crazy electrics. Anyone help?

[Alec]

My mate just turned up in a G plate GTI cabby that she has just bought. The electrics are going insane, MFA and rev counter are going barmy, full beam light comes on when the full beam is turned off and vice versa, dashboard lights have vanished, the dimmer switch for the dash lights makes the oil pressure light flicker and the central locking seems to be connected to the lights. Car is also tricky to start and has a very low idle. All these problems started today.

Bad earth? Faulty wiring?

[richandhazel]

Earth's.........always check earth's first off IMHO.

[Alec]

Earth's.........always check earth's first off IMHO.

Thought as much, thanks for that. I am not at all clued up on the mk1. Any idea's what and where to check?

[raferackstraw]

check earth to rocker cover on engine for instruments and check earth to tail and headlight bulbs.
get a bit of wire and attach to brown wire going to headlamps and ground other end then see if lights work normal do same at each tail lamp, also check the column switches

[Alec]

check earth to rocker cover on engine for instruments and check earth to tail and headlight bulbs.
get a bit of wire and attach to brown wire going to headlamps and ground other end then see if lights work normal do same at each tail lamp, also check the column switches

Am I a div for not understanding alot of that? Earth to tail? Cheers though

[rubjonny]

white/brown wire is the earth, check in the engine bay for a snapped wire. usually its earthed to side of head/rocker cover. also sometimes it helps to add an extra earth from the head to one of the coil mounting bolts

[richandhazel]

white/brown wire is the earth, check in the engine bay for a snapped wire. usually its earthed to side of head/rocker cover. also sometimes it helps to add an extra earth from the head to one of the coil mounting bolts

That's a good idea! I've noticed that my rev counter fails occasionally. I have tried cleaning up the earth to the cylinder head. I'll try your suggestion too.

[SoundillusioN]

Does this car have an aftermarket alarm fitted?

[richandhazel]

Does this car have an aftermarket alarm fitted?

Is that me that you're asking?

If so, yes, it has a Toad Ai606 alarm and immobilizer.

[Alec]

Does this car have an aftermarket alarm fitted?

Yes but not sure on the make/model. The door's had a mind of their own last night.