Speedo dies, fuel light comes on and judders in low revs

[audia42000]

Hiya, i'm new to the forum but was hoping somebody might be able to give me some advice or suggestions on my current problem.

I have a 2000 1.9tdi golf 115bhp.
The problem started when the speedometer stopped working. Along with this, the fuel light comes on intermittently at which point the needle on the fuel gauge has dropped to empty. It quickly goes off again and the needle returns to the level it should be. Also when driving at low revs, 2nd gear to 3rd, it seems to judder as if it is about to stall. When the fuse is replaced, all these problems go away until the next time it blows again, which is becoming almost continuously.

I have tried using larger fuses and it still blows and I have had an auto electrician look at it, who took out the dash, checked for shorts and any obvious problems with the speedo but couldn't find anything.

Today, we have tried disconnecting the speed sensor and after driving it about thirty miles, the fuse hadn't blown but the fuel light problem and juddering was still there. Could it be a new speed sensor?

Would be grateful for any help as it is getting very frustrating! Many thanks, Tash

[tdigolf]

more probabley the clocks are on there way out they are prone to going..

[rc4279]

audia42000,

Just reading your problems you had with your speedo. Did you manage to resolve the issue? I have exactly the same fault with my MKIV Golf TDi (apart from the juddering)

Was it a fuse problem? and if so, which fuse?

Cheers,

Rich

[audia42000]

Hi Rich,

We've narrowed the problem down to a fault in the reversing light circuit and have temporarily fixed it by cutting the wire to the reverse light switch on top of the gearbox.

Apart from having no reverse lights, the car has been running without any problems for the last six weeks (touch wood!)!

Good luck,
Tash

[herby0001]

We've narrowed the problem down to a fault in the reversing light circuit...

Who would have thought it! Another one of those quirks of the Mk4! Thanks for letting us know. How did you trace it to the reversing light circuit?

[audia42000]

Spent hours studying wiring diagrams (Haynes manual!) and using a process of elimination !
Initially thought it was related to the speed sender but after disconnecting it, the problem still returned. Had another look and found that the reversing lights also use fuse 7. Thought that this may be a good place to try as there is a long cable run to the rear lights so plenty of places for an intermittent short.

Hope this helps!