Electrical problems, fuse box f**ked

[GemGTI]

Took my car to an auto electrician as I've been having loads of electrical probs since I got the car. Ie: one day something works, the next day it doesn't. Also some things seem to have been wired to the battery instead of ignition. Anyway as usual for my car, the news wasn't good.

Basically the fuse box was full of extra wires and nothing was wired correctly. The guy showed me it and to be honest it looked a right mess! He said it could catch fire and was surprised I hadn't had more major problems. He said the best thing to do would be to get a new fuse box from vw (£120+vat) and put all the wiring back to standard because the way it is now would be a pig of a job to sort out as you can't tell what is what. Some wires don't even go to anything!

So anyway they've quoted me 2hours labour at £50+vat plus the cost of the fuse box.

Does this sound about right to everyone who knows what they are takling about cos I haven't a clue. I've a feeling I've been ripped off in the past and don't want to be taken for a mug again.

Cheers,

Gem

[ronnie'C']

hello mate, the labour charges seem about right but have you tried eurocarparts, gsf or a breakers for a good fuse box, should be cheaper than VW.
Dunno where you live but Camberly auto factors is cheap aswell.

[Mk1Mad J - 16v]

Hi Gem

Sounds like your fusebox probably got wet at some point  its really common as mk1's tend to leak a bit when they get old kind of like an incontinent grandad 

£50 labour doesn't sound too bad, theres loads of wires that they'll need to trace etc... they'll certainly earn it 

Don't bother with a vag fusebox, you can pick them up for about £40 new from places like volkspares/eurocarparts etc... i've never had any problems with them - expect to replace a few relays though!!!


I'd strongly advise checking for any leaks before anyone touches the fusebox or it will probably just break again  been there done that 


The most common places are:-

Loose, damaged or missing grommets on the bulkhead behind the engine - also look out for holes drilled for stereo's etc...

Through the scuttle panel, that bit under the bonnet behind where the wiper motor is

Rotten floorplan  was any of your welding in that area 

Sunroof drainage tubes either blocked or dislodged - this is probably the hardest to fix  so lets hope its no that one 

[Madone_si]

Gemma - I'd let TVRgolf Joe have a look at that wiring before you get it done else where, as his only 10 minutes away from you. Clearing up and re-installing fusebox properly takes longer than 2 hours if they are going to check all wires and relays too.

I don't trust garages when it comes to electrical side of cars....

[Mk1Mad J - 16v]

I don't trust garages when it comes to electrical side of cars....

  i don't trust garages at all, DIY all the way for me 

[Madone_si]

here is a fuse box on febay and its from a 1.6 GTI mk1.. might be worth going for if required....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-Golf-GTI-mk1-fuseboard-early-type_W0QQitemZ4619111955QQcategoryZ9889QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Mk1Mad J - 16v]

here is a fuse box on febay and its from a 1.6 GTI mk1.. might be worth going for if required....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-Golf-GTI-mk1-fuseboard-early-type_W0QQitemZ4619111955QQcategoryZ9889QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

  thats for an early/small bumper mk1

[GemGTI]

Forgot to mention, the guy who looked at it is an auto electrician, he also mentioned about leaks and that it probably got wet. Tried GSF they don't do them. The garage is round the corner from where I work and I couldn't drive it home as once he touched the fuse box everything stopped working! He said you just need to tap the fuse box and things start and stop working. Also after he said it could catch fire I sort of got a bit scared!!!

[Mk1Mad J - 16v]

www.eurocarparts.com or volkspares 0208 778 7766 - VAG part no 171 941 821C

[Madone_si]

Forgot to mention, the guy who looked at it is an auto electrician, he also mentioned about leaks and that it probably got wet. Tried GSF they don't do them. The garage is round the corner from where I work and I couldn't drive it home as once he touched the fuse box everything stopped working! He said you just need to tap the fuse box and things start and stop working. Also after he said it could catch fire I sort of got a bit scared!!!

Well that kind of stops any other options then.... get new fusebox as per mk1madj and get that garage to fix it then. Make sure you get a details invoice of what they have done for future reference if anything stop working...