help me untangle a huge electrical mess, 82 rabbit pickup - Troubleshooting - VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

• help me untangle a huge electrical mess, 82 rabbit pickup by mike_belben on 01 Sep, 2009 01:25
• new to VWs, i was only looking for a diesel motor to adapt into my toyota rockcrawler and found this veggie converted 82 truck for $800 right down the street from me. , floor and window pillars starting to rot but otherwise very clean. i intend to drive it for as long as possible
  
  
  
  
  its got major electrical issues that im still diagnosing and will document here.  only had it 2 days. this thread is partly a request for pointers, and partly for myself to keep track of whats been ruled out.
  
  so far i know that:
  
  -it drains batteries
  -will crank, but will not fire
  -glow plug indicator on dash does not come on, only two red lights when keyed
  -glow plug fuseible link is good
  -no headlights, taillights, turn signals, etc.  horn make a buzz in the dash but no sound from horn
  -when key is turned forward, (and only then) there is enough current between battery ground terminal
  and chassis to illuminate a test light (never seen this before)
  -has several blown fuses and a melted spot on the panel where someone tapped for power.  
  -fuse panel does not seem to be the one manuals suggest it should be, looks like '83 panel.  (image on page 9 of this PDF) newbielink:http://www.425dubs.com/files/Inet%20cars/MK1/79.pdf [nonactive]
  -relay socket that hangs from very left foot area has broken off relay terminals rusted solid in it, no relay
  -relay under dash between drivers knees looks to be in bad shape, broken plastic, corroded.
  
  
  my haynes manual really sucks at identifying what any of these are.  i'll get pics tomorrow.  can anyone recommend a quality, detailed brand of repair manual for early rabbits?
  
  thanks in advance for any help.
  mike
  
• #1 by Syncroincity on 01 Sep, 2009 01:44
• Get a BENTLY manual ASAP It's the VW owner's bible.
  
  Sounds like you have your work cut out for you... you never know what kind of rocket scientists have been rooting around behind your dash. When I first got my van, some genius had bypassed the simple ground-seeking factory horn circuit with a relay-powered bodge that reversed the current flow and had about 5 miles of unnecessary wiring
  
• #2 by DavidMechanicsarefun on 02 Sep, 2009 17:26
• not that I am a VW wizzard but the schematics are basic,,   just ck for voltage and fuseable link voltage. 
  my tail light had bad connection 1 inch from socket,, wiggle ck found that.  My lift pump needed re wired easy.  Ck voltage or feel to see if glow plugs get warm,,,,  use a test light ,,,,,   and and what works wonders is just a 12 volt batt and you just apply voltage and see if stuff works........   Just remove fuses and then apply that voltage on the load side of the circuit  that you are interrested in and ground the other wire.   Some times bad grounds don t show up but under load it will..    Break the circuits down into small segments      It takes time
• #3 by Rabbit TD on 02 Sep, 2009 18:14
• Yes the Bentley book is the one to have.  And for what it's worth these are about the most uncomplicated vehicles to work on that there is and parts are pretty cheap and available everywhere.  But I hope you like tinkering because with these creatures there's no end to it but it's all fun.  Might as well go get some ARP head studs and a head gasket too, you'll probably be needing one soon if not now, it happens to us all.  It is a nice looking truck though, it'll be a fun project.