Electrics nightmare

[Brighouse-gti]

So, drove car around yesturday, everything was fine, no issues. Gets in car this morning, starts up fine but seems to be running a bit lumpy, and more to the point, the dashboard is thinking its christmas cos all the lights are flashing like theres a party going down in the instrument cluster! Was like something from close encounters! But as the car was running, and I had to get to work I thought **** it. So I then puts the headlights on, only for the party to stop and the instrument cluster to just die. Turn the headlights off and the party starts again, turn the headlights on and the party stops!... and it still feels lumpy! There wasn't any rain last night, as that was my initial thought. Is it possible that something has fried itself overnight? Also before I forget, the wipers have also decided to take on a life of their own and just stay on when off. I've had to pull the relay to stop it but its another problem thats popped up over night. Any suggestions???

[sparkplug]

 look at the fuse box area, then check along the loom

[gazareth]

electrical side of ignition switch maybe?

[Brighouse-gti]

Swapped over the fusebox today as I have a couple spare, and still no joy. Had a butchers around the back of the fusebox wiring and can't find any problems there. Found a 'broken' earth wire under the bonnet that goes to the inlet manifold, sorted that out but thats all I could find. Still have the same problem! Any other suggestions welcome, I'm stumped!

[Sgt_Lemon]

Check your battery and coil just for piece of mind.

[Brighouse-gti]

Just had another tinker now and things are kind of improving. Coil and battery both check out OK. I don't think I said it originally, but the lights were working opposite to each other too, but after having grille and lights off I found a broken earth behind the lights and now they both work as a pair. 1 problem sorted. The main problem however remains. To simplify it, it's as if the more the power to the lights, dip, main, full, the less power gets to the instrument cluster, till nothing.
Dip, cluster works
Main, cluster lights dim, rev counter drops
Full, cluster dies
I'm trying to get around it in my head as to how the lights would affect the cluster. Do they run off the same relay in the fuse box? Would the 2 relays behind the passenger headlight affect the amount of power going to to the lights. Is there an auto electrician on this forum? Again, any suggestions welcome!

[JC]

Very strange question but humour me,

Have u changed a light bulb recently ?

Also have u checked the rear lights ? And kept them on as u went ? Sides, then brakes, keeping them on and then indicators ?

[Brighouse-gti]

No haven't changed any lights, however, the things I did change before the problems started were the gear linkages as finding reverse was a pain in the a***. Just coincidental I'd have thought tho as the only electrics unplugged was the header tank sensor to move the header tank to the side to make it easier to work around the bay. The problem wasn't there after this tho, it just seems to have happened over night, and is driving me nuts!

[sparkplug]

if you are sure haven't worked on or disturbed any electrical gear, then ..
 there's a voltage stabilizer on the back of the clocks ? this would not help if it's breaking down
similar to this......


http://volkswagenownersclub.com/vw/showthread.php/26148-dash-instrument-voltage-stabilizer

[Organisys]

Check all earth connections. Start with the main battery connection and the one to the block.