Instrument LED/indicator lights/guage power or signal

[arfalberg]

'85 Jetta TD.
Hey, I just got my alternator working good for the first time since I bought the car, but now my led lights are not coming on and my gas and temp gauges are not working. By that I mean the only thing that works in my instrument cluster is the speedometer and the high beam indicator. It all worked flawlessly just before the alt got fixed. When I turn the key to run but don't start the car no leds come on. When I go to start it no leds come on, when I run it no leds come on, the turn signal does not work anymore. I thought the relay panel was not getting juice but my headlights and headlight led work fine, and the seat belt buzzer is working (but not the light). Also my gas gauge and temp gauge are not working at all. My tach has not worked since I bought the car so I can't tell if it has changed or not.

New alt, new battery. Checked a few fuses, none blown.

Has anyone had this issue or know a good place to start looking?

[nkb]

you should pull your cluster and open it up, you might have some cold joints in there, i just bought another car last week and noting worked at all except my speedo and it was the same thing with my first car. a good way to tell is to pull out the cluster and wiggle the plug around a bit and see if anything come on. cold joints can be hard to spot but are very easy to fix.

[arfalberg]

what do you mean by cold joints?  i have already wiggled removed and replaced the plugs to ensure proper connection.  still no luck.

[nkb]

cold joint is a bad or connection in the solder joints on the circuit board, for your temp and fuel guages, check around the voltage stabilizer, thats where my problem was for that. im not too sure how different the 85's are from the  93's tho..

[arfalberg]

where is the voltage stabilizer?

[arfalberg]

is that the same as voltage regulator if so i got a new one with my new alt.  i have the feeling one wire is the culprit because they all failed at the same time and very suddenly is there a wire or relay or something that would control all those items?? also my turn sygnals don't work (the indicator light or the outside lights)

[nkb]

the voltage stabilizer is in the gauge cluster, it just keeps the vlotage to your temp and fuel gauge at 12v.

[arfalberg]

Okay...did some research. the Voltage regulator should keep the voltage at about 10 volts. .5 volts more or less and you need to replace it. I will be testing it this weekend as i need to finish my wifes car before she kills me.  But i need to know where to get another voltage regulator. can i buy them somewhere. do i need to go to the junk yard to get it? or can my local VWpart place get them?