Newbie - 1986 MK2 Golf 1.6D NA

[JGVWDiesel]

Ah, ok. Shocks it is this weekend then! I do have the headlights on, yes. The HVAC controls do not light up, either.

[burn_your_money]

I would look at fuses then I would look at trying a spare headlight switch.

[JGVWDiesel]

I discovered that my driving lights also don't work, and after fiddling with the fuses relays, some more lights in the dash have come and gone (they've mostly come back - the temp gauge, gas gauge, oil light, battery.) Should I still be trying to figure out what's going on with the headlight and dimmer switch? I definitely need the driving lights or else I could get pulled over for not having them on during night.

[bagpipegoatee]

all of your dash lights should be (they were from the factory) on the same circuit.   If some work, the problem with the rest of them is at the bulb or close to bulb wires level.   That wiring harness means it's an american built mk2.   Not too many of those, just 85s and most of 86.

[79rabbit4dr]

does anything seem obviously out of place or missing here?

in the 1st pic, where do the orange and red wires (the ones that look like they're attached to the clutch and brake pedals) go to?

2nd pic, to the left of the tag (hanging from the top center) there is a connector hanging there empty, check that, as well as to the right of the tag, above the glow plug fuse and the thick blue and yellow wires there is a green or turquoise colored wire that looks cut, try to figure that out as well.

to have empty fuse and relay spots is normal, they use one block and add/omit relays/fuses depending on what accessories and options came installed on the vehicle.

[JGVWDiesel]

I ended up taking 12v power from the #7th fuse and put it into parking lights/tail lights etc (because I didn't have those either.) I originally tried to get 12v to the dash lights and the tail lights but it blew the fuse so I just put it into tail lights. However, for some odd reason, my dash lights have come on (slowly, 1 at a time at random intervals in the day). Very odd.

Next thing on my list is to do the shifter bushings. Any tips or tricks for doing this?

thanks

[theman53]

http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/ForSale/ShiftLinkage.shtml

Spend the dollar to have him print the destructions for you if you go this route. Shouldn't have to ever replace it.

[JGVWDiesel]

I just want to replace the bushings, don't want to spend the dollar on that linkage kit. Thanks, though.

[alexgingles]

So, I guess here's the problems I'm having:

E-brake - it clicks all the way up but does nothing.
Clutch pedal - Engages/disengages very very high up.
Sunroof is leaky.
Dash lights don't work at all.
It smokes a fair bit at WOT but not much at all anywhere else.
Shifter is loose in its place (it moves around a lot, it looked like the bushings near the firewall?)
Struts/shocks in rear are pretty much shot (I think this is straight forward to replace?)

sounds like a typical vw to me...
my '86 na diesel golf was a stepping stone for me.. it was my first vw diesel.. i then moved on to turbos.  But for $440.. you can't go wrong.  Good luck with and enjoy it!

[JGVWDiesel]

I figured I'd post up some pictures of the engine bay! Spot anything out of place or out of adjustment? I'd like to know There appears to be no fuel leaking around the injectors or the pump, so that is a good sign.

[JGVWDiesel]

bump for if anyone spots something unusual

[burn_your_money]

I see something strange. You appear to have no battery.

Other then that everything looks normalish. The switches for the upshift light has been removed. It's not important though.

[JGVWDiesel]

When I took those pictures I had a battery charging up to test it's condition

Curious, how does the upshift light work exactly? Like what conditions?

thanks for taking a look though!

[burn_your_money]

Curious, how does the upshift light work exactly? Like what conditions?

Usually it doesn't

I have no idea though. Look for ashleyroe's build thread. I think she fixed hers up.

[JGVWDiesel]

alright thanks! I want to do the injection pump timing, but the rental of the tools from vm autohaus (vw shop nearby, they're very good) would cost me a bit more than I'm looking to put in. I'm trying to be as low cost as I can on this as the body on this vehicle won't go too much longer.