85 golf electrical issue

[Turbosuzi]

Hi all, it has been a long time since I have been here after I sold my diesels. i recently picked up a 1985 golf 1.6D for $200.00    was able to get it started and running but I am having issues with the electronics. none f the lighting(dash, brake, tail, or turn signals) work, I checked the fuses and they are fine. I pulled the fuses and tested for power, no power on any of the lighting. it there a relay somewhere that feeds the lighting?

[fatmobile]

Light switch?

[srgtlord]

I would check the voltage of the wiring harness by the light switch

[TylerDurden]

Ja, if it's only missing lights,  I'd check the feed to the switch first.

If none of the electrics are working, I'd check the main grounds and the load reduction relay.

[Turbosuzi]

Ok so this is what I found after playing with it this weekend. I found a ground by the battery that was not bolted down so i did and the fuse block has power now. I am getting power to the headlight plugs but not enough to light up the headlight. When I test aross the ground(brown wire) and the low beam(blue wire) i get 12v but as soon as I plug the bulb in the voltage drops to 0. it is almost like the bulb is drawing too much and causing a breaker to open because after I remove the bulb and test the ground and low beam the power stays at 0 then after 10-15 seconds it returns to 12 volts. I bought a new headlight and tried that to see if there was any difference, but the same results. do you think that a relay can act as a circuit breaker? does the power go directly from the switch to the headlight or does it go through a relay or circuit breaker? I dont have an electrical diagram for this car yet.

[mtrans]

as soon as I plug the bulb in the voltage drops to 0.

How good is your akku?
Did you test same bulb direct with wires on akku?

[air-cooled or diesel]

when you have some time, as its used and a $200 car, must be a nice buy; id get some electronic spray, and clean a bunch of contacts. maybe run new wires(where needed), run stout, clean grounds, and maybe pos batt wires,,grounds from batt neg terminal to body and from motor to body, add 1 more from trans to body, theres some more you can do,