Club 80-90 Forums

My Syncro is still at the garage after being stolen a couple of weeks ago tomorrow, everything has been fixed, but there is one outstanding problem that the garage have come up against.

They have fitted a new starter motor, and ignition loom, and everything works ok apart from one thing. Engine starts by the turn of the key, but when engine switched off, and key removed, the dash lights remain on.

What could cause this problem? A relay?

When my Syncro was stolen, it was hotwired, and damage caused to the loom, and starter motor, which both have been replaced, so mechanic is head scratching at the moment, so any help, pointers as to why the above is happening, or likely cause would be greatly appreciated so I can point the guy in the right direction.

An observation I noticed after recovering Flint from the theft was that the ignition barrel was undamaged as was hotwired with wires going to the back of it, however, upon my initial temporary repair of the wires, simply covering them with insulation tape, and plugging the loom back into the ignition switch, I noticed that there was no longer a first position on the key turn. I assumed that this was due to the steering lock being broken? Could this pose the above mention dash light fault?

Thanks in advance

Try checking the earth 'crown', just to the left of the fuse box. All connections clean and firm?

So many of the electrical threads here focus on poor / intermittent earth connections.
Good luck, glad you got your van back

Cheers for that, will mention it to him. He called again just now to say that he's now waiting on a part which should arrive at 2pm. It's a part relating to the new start motor. What part that is is beyond me. I guess this is the trouble with my lack of the Finnish language, and my wife's interpreting

When you say "dash lights", do you mean the illumination lights that light up when your headlights are turned on or do you mean the ignition, oil, water etc lights?

Ignition lights mate. Oil, water etc.

Mickyfin wrote:I noticed that there was no longer a first position on the key turn.

Perhaps your switch unit (the electrical bit) is stuck in the 'second' position? The equivalent of the key being in the position just prior to cranking? I know the key moves out of that position but does it turn the switch aswell? Can the switch part be removed and turned without the barrel etc so you can test the switch operation independantly?

I've never had one of these apart so sorry if I'm talking out me ar$e....

I will get him to check this mate, cheers.

might be worth just fitting a new plastic section to the back of the barrel .
Think this is the part but no pick.
http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/shop?page=s ... ory_id=120" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

this bit
http://www.vwheritage.com/vw_spares_Ign ... geToLoad=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cheers Dazco.

All sorted now, but for some reason, even though new parts fitted to fix the broken steering lock, its not functioning as it should.

so does the switch work properly with the lock detached?

No mate, with the key out of the barrel, I can still turn the steering wheel, however, there is some resistance as uf there is something not quite right.

Personally, I feel that the broken steering lock internal parts are the cause of what I can feel through the steering.

No I mean the dash lights staying on problem - can they be turned off if the switch is operated independant of the actual key/lock mechanism?

Ah I see what you mean now. Not checked that, will have a look today by removing the cowling.