Where do I find the fusible link on a '96 golf????

[Patrick]

No power to the plugs, light on dash is coming on, tried unhooking the temp sensor..... Where's the @%#$ fusible link? The car will start without plugs when it`s warm enough outside(but not well). Supposed to be -2c in the morning.....

[ORCoaster]

Most of the links I have seen are on the back of the engine area up on or by the firewall.  Trace back the wires or find the color of the wires attached to the bus bar.  Then see if you can find a similar one with some sort of black wrapped box or fuse socket connected to it. 

Maybe someone that has a 96 Golf knows better and can direct you best.  But in a pinch start looking on the firewall.

DAS

[Patrick]

Not there. I`m more familiar with mk2 cars, I know where to find it on them, but thanks. The `96 has a big fancy plug that teh whole engine runs through, 2 red and white wires that run the plugs. There`s a red and white wire into some kind of a box under the overflow can for teh rad, with a fusible link and two spade fuses in one end of it. That fusible link is hot all teh time, the 20 amp fuze is too. The 5 amp fuse goes hot with the key. Sealed box, had it out and don`t know what`s inside.

[Patrick]

Never mind, looked up that part number, it`s a fan controller.

[ORCoaster]

Found this on another forum.  In the box behind the battery?  on the side of the fender is there another pile of fuses that plug into the slots there?


Fuse arangements in fuse bracket/battery:

S162. Glow plugs (coolant) (50A).
S163. Fuel pump (FP) relay/glow plug relay (50A).
S164. Coolant fan control (FC) control module/coolant fan (40A).
S176. Relays panel interior (110A).
S177. Generator (GEN) (90 Amp.) (110A).
Generator (GEN) (120 Amp.) (150A).
S178. ABS (hydraulic pump) (30A).
S179. ABS (30A).
S180. Coolant fan (30A).

[Patrick]

I'll have a look, but it's not sounding familiar...

[Patrick]

Nope, no box behind the battery. Mexican Golf, sold in Canada with an AAZ. 170,000 original kms...

[ORCoaster]

Keep a jumper cable handy until someone can be more specific on this for you.  Just jump the bus bar to the battery.  Fire it up then take the cable off.  A little after glow won't hurt it.  Just don't short it out on the block.  Or good bye battery, cable and whatever that hot metal takes out between the two.

[Patrick]

I'd do that if I was driving it, but it's my wife's car.... told her to take mine to work today. (mk2 jetta/AAZ). SHe found something online last night, the link MAY be right on top of the fusebox. I'll go looking for it tonight.

[dieselweasel]

On my 93 and 94, the glow plug fuse is on the firewall closer to the driver's side.  It's inside a sort of black plastic box maybe 2" square.  Should be there on your '96, unless they changed the arrangement...

[Patrick]

That's what it looks like on the mk2 cars, but not this one....

[Patrick]

Found it!!!

If anyone else has this problem, there's a huge 50 amp spade type fuse (red) on top of the fuse panel in it's own separate holder. Bypassed it and away we go!

(already installed a 50 amp breaker under the hood)

[ORCoaster]

Strange that they put it in the main panel.  Seems un-VW like to do that.  Glad you got it.

[Patrick]

Yup. Had an earlier mk3 ('93) stripped out in the back yard, it's got the box on the firewall like a mk2.