Several Problems! Help!

[chunkychicklet]

Hi there i'm new to the forum and this is my first post.

Recently developed a few probs with my MK IV Golf, it's a 2003 SDI 1.9 Diesel.

Firstly my speedo started to jump erratically, like it would plummet to 0 when I was doing 60 and things like that, now it is not working at all.

I put it into a local VW/AUDI specialist garage and the guy submitted to rigorous testing and concluded the probelm was purely electrical becuase he says everything else is working fine. He gave me the number of his auto - electrician who unfortunately did not turn up Thursday as arranged so I am no further forward.

However since the car was in his garage I now note that every time I make a turn the fuel gauge plunges to empty and the warning light sounds despite having plenty fuel in it.

Also, when I change gear, esp 2nd and 3rd, the car judders pretty violently to the extent that I think it's going to cut out on me, but when I then accelerate the problem goes away.

I am trying to arrange another auto electrician but does anyone have any pointers to what these problems are, could they be related, and are they fixable? I love my car and anyway can't really afford another one right now!

Any advice gratefully received!! :(

[rebelchicken]

i HAVE EXACTLY - ABSOLUTELY EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUES, CAN ANYONE HELP?

[ImCammers]

Did you get a print out of the apparent 'electrical' faults, since this would indicate the type of faults? But this does certainly sounds like there is more wrong with the car then perhaps just a faulty 'dash'. This sounds like it could be a array of issues, and not just one? At the very worst, i suppose it could be ECU related? But i don't know how many have been known to fail...

Does the car idle rough? when starting from cold?
Have any of the fuses been removed while the battery is still connected?

[rebelchicken]

Hi there IMcammers

thank-you for your reply, I am starting to home in on the solution. the only other mention of this specific issue I can find is that the engine speed sensor is faulty. this on certain models feeds into the cluster and others have mentioned that this can also affect the fuel gauge.

The engine shudder is not that bad and possibly could be attributed to timing and the engine idles with no issues.

I have ordered a replacement engine speed sensor and have the haynes manual so i will swap this out this weekend and give you all an update.

thanks for your time

[chunkychicklet]

Hi there

I originally posted the problems of which you are experiencing the same type. I took my car to an excellent wee garage in Ibrox, Glasgow and one of the guys there who is an auto-electrician sorted it right out. It was purely electrical and he told me that the reason for the juddering was because the wrong messages were getting sent about the speed of the car so it was causing the gears to malfunction. It worked like a dream after they fixed it.

Hope your issues get sorted.

[rebelchicken]

Hi All
Good news, all fixed - by my own hand!

I want to post all this up so that others do not go through as much pain as me sorting this out.


OK symptoms of the problem were:
Speedometer went funny and then died. 0 miles per hour, never moved.
At the same time the petrol gauge started wavering around all over the place, especially when going round corners, when the fuel warning light would come on. (this happened more when there was less than half a tank)
I had 2 options available as far as i could see. Based on what others had written in varius forums:

1: It was a speed/distance sensor fault
2: It was a wiring loom fault.

On the manual transmission the speed distance sensor is accessable if you pull the air filter out of the way.
I opted to replace this, finding the part number was an issue and after purchasing the wrong item finally got the right part.

Part Number: 1H0919049C

I fitted this, put everything back together and it did not work.

I gritted my teeth and realised i needed to pursue the second option. the wiring loom.

This runs below the air filter and under the battery and battery holder.

I removed the air filter, battery, battery shelf and the front light cowl to assist getting my hands in to undo the battery clamp.

This done I felt around where the lead to the speed sensor joined the main loom, and lo and behold there was the break.



Feeling a lot better because I had found a proper cause, i went and got my soldering iron. soldered the joint with high temp solder, taped the joint firmly.
I cable tied the joint both sides back to the main loom, and then taped the whole lot back together.

Replaced everything, started the car up and YES! the speedo now works correctly, the fuel gauge is working correctly and all the engine warning lights have gone out.

This was a repair that I though was beyond me, however, a broken wire is a broken wire, and with the help of the haynes manual, that told me how to remove things like the battery and air filter i was able to complete this repair.

I would urge everyone with this issue to trace the wiring first, as this may save money on a new sensor, the sensor cost me £50. this may seem like an expensive way to sort out a broken wire but I am convinced that this would have cost £200 plus at a dealer.

I really hope this helps you all fix this problem. good luck.