Author Topic: 1982 Rabbit 1.6TD electrical/starting issues  (Read 4422 times)

December 02, 2006, 02:02:13 pm

BlackTieTD

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1982 Rabbit 1.6TD electrical/starting issues
« on: December 02, 2006, 02:02:13 pm »
this morning when i was driving an awful noise started from the engine bay.. sounded like transmission area. it was running fine and had power but a sort of grinding/whirring noise seemed to be starting. drove about 5 minutes like this and the car shut off. when it did, i noticed some buzzing from the fusebox... didnt sound like a relay buzz, but might have been. i shook the fusebox around a little and the noise stopped. but the car wouldn't start back up. popped the hood and the negative battery terminal was half melted into a pool of metal on top of the battery. even with the key off the brake light on the gauge panel stayed on (when normally it never comes on, the e-brake switch is disconnected). so i pulled the negative terminal and towed home.

we had a lot of rain the past few days and my fusebox appears to have gotten wet.

i replaced the negative terminal and let the fusebox air out a little. tried firing it up. it turns over, but now sounds like the starter is grinding on something... its similar to the nasty sound i noticed earlier... but obviously slower because the engine is trying to start up.

it turns over but will not start...
i'm thinking that something in the fusebox shorted, or a relay... and this is coupled with starter issues... perhaps it fried? if i don't get any other ideas i'm going to go ahead replacing the fusebox (which is corroded) and try to find a hefty starter... possibly the fuel solenoid got fried as well, but i'm hoping that its fine until i try starter/fusebox.

anyone know a good source for westmoreland fuseboxes? 1982 NA diesel (but its a 1.6TD in the bay).

any help appreciated!

Reply #1December 02, 2006, 03:48:27 pm

burn_your_money

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1982 Rabbit 1.6TD electrical/starting issues
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2006, 03:48:27 pm »
That doesn't sound good at all man. Wouldn't a gas cluster be the same? less all the snap-on relay holders ontop of it?

Any metal shavings or bare metal if you look in the timing hole on the tranny?

LMK if you need a mk2 diesel starter
Tyler

Reply #2December 03, 2006, 12:25:33 pm

BlackTieTD

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1982 Rabbit 1.6TD electrical/starting issues
« Reply #2 on: December 03, 2006, 12:25:33 pm »
hey tyler. i didnt know the gas cars were the same fusebox.. i have a spare 84 gti box i will try. the starter does not sound good.. will need to be replaced. are you going to be in town soon or will we have to ship that mkII starter? i might have a good one around here but i think its from a gas car. -lanny