1.8L 83 GTI no electrical power

[theman53]

This is an 83 GAS 1.8L GTI...
I can't get it to do anything but light up the dash. No fuel pump, no cranking, won't jump with a screw driver. I ran it all day thursday no problems parked and went to get in friday morning and nothing. If I get in and turn the key on the dome light will go out. Sometimes if I hold the brake it will go off as well, sometimes the dash will do the same thing. I have checked the grounds, battery, fuses, and wiggled some fusable links. I am going to replace the fuseable links tomorrow when I get some butt connectors, but other than what I have done I don't know what to do.
Please let me know what to do to get it to go I am worthless almost with the gassers.

[rabbid79]

My brother has a Neon.  It was running perfectly until he took a curvy off-ramp from the freeway.  For on apparent reason, it died right in the middle of the curve, and couldn't be started.  The instruments in the dash worked, and the interior light would come on, but that was it.  We tried everything to get it running again.  Tested the battery voltage, wiggled the battery wires, etc.  Finally decided to bypass the factory wire by connecting one of the leads of the jumper cables between his positive battery post, and the positive lug on his fuse fox.  Fired right up.  Up inside the wire it was corroded, but looked fine from the outsite.  I would suggest you do something similar.  Connect the negative wire on some jumper cables between your negative battery post and a good clean ground on your engine.  Then connect the positive wire of the jumper cables between the positive post of your battery and the post on the starter motor, or wherever that heavy wire from the battery goes.  Give it a try.

[jtanguay]

My brother has a Neon.  It was running perfectly until he took a curvy off-ramp from the freeway.  For on apparent reason, it died right in the middle of the curve, and couldn't be started.  The instruments in the dash worked, and the interior light would come on, but that was it.  We tried everything to get it running again.  Tested the battery voltage, wiggled the battery wires, etc.  Finally decided to bypass the factory wire by connecting one of the leads of the jumper cables between his positive battery post, and the positive lug on his fuse fox.  Fired right up.  Up inside the wire it was corroded, but looked fine from the outsite.  I would suggest you do something similar.  Connect the negative wire on some jumper cables between your negative battery post and a good clean ground on your engine.  Then connect the positive wire of the jumper cables between the positive post of your battery and the post on the starter motor, or wherever that heavy wire from the battery goes.  Give it a try.

very evident of the cutbacks large companies use to try and save a bit of cash.  the late mk3 vw's (not all) had this problem too.  maybe more models... who knows?  my starter terminal corroded off so the wire didn't have contact. gave the same symptoms...

[DCC]

This is an 83 GAS 1.8L GTI...
I can't get it to do anything but light up the dash. No fuel pump, no cranking, won't jump with a screw driver. I ran it all day thursday no problems parked and went to get in friday morning and nothing. If I get in and turn the key on the dome light will go out. Sometimes if I hold the brake it will go off as well, sometimes the dash will do the same thing. I have checked the grounds, battery, fuses, and wiggled some fusable links. I am going to replace the fuseable links tomorrow when I get some butt connectors, but other than what I have done I don't know what to do.
Please let me know what to do to get it to go I am worthless almost with the gassers.

I'd check the ignition switch.. 

[theman53]

I dont have a switch to replace it with or I would. Is there any way to test them easily?
Also, where does the main power hook to the fuse block? Is it easy to get to or is the job an easy one?
I still don't have it going.

[theman53]

I got it.
Soldiered the fuseable links with non fuseable link stuff. Then I think I shorted the battery and added a new one and she runs.

[theman53]

Had it going last night, now I have no spark and no fuel pump. It cranks just fine now though. I am thinking pickup coil any other suggestions?

[DCC]

Had it going last night, now I have no spark and no fuel pump. It cranks just fine now though. I am thinking pickup coil any other suggestions?

You're almost there. 

Check the cables yet again. The gasser fuel pump is activated via a relay in the fusebox. It has its own fuse, so maybe it's toast.

Are you sure you have no spark? Did you check against the block? Are you getting steady voltage at the coil after contact?

[theman53]

Reworked one of the fuseable links AGAIN and it is going...nothing like a day of troubleshooting for a 3 minute fix.