Oil buzzer & fuel economy gauge

[the edmundator]

I've got the dash with the fuel economy gauge at the top. The amber light illuminates - but possibly as and when it feels like it, rather than to indicate I might like to change gear - but the needle (which I know should only operate in 5th gear) is not doing anything.

I have no idea about electrics, so if someone can tell me what I ought to be checking in the circuit to make sure everything's connected up correctly etc, I'd be grateful. If you can tell me where everything is, that would be even more helpful. It's not covered well in Haynes and I'm not much use with a wiring diagram.


I have a (possibly unrelated) problem with the oil buzzer sounding (I presume it's this, it's a buzzing from behind the dash clocks). It seems to operate at anything approaching 2000rpm and beyond. The oil pressure warning light does not flash simultaneously, which the owner's handbook says is what ought to happen, and I've no real reason to suspect low oil pressure. I think it might be another electrical problem, but again I'm not really sure what to check.

Help! (Please)

[ianaudia4]

Ref the fuel economy guage. I had the same problem with my Storm when I first got it. Check the vacumn pipes, my one was missing from the inlet manifold, popped a new one on and it worked. I took the trouble to renew all the vacumn pipes under the bonnet, for what it cost (£2 a metre from a show) for the pipe it was well worth it. There is also a black electrical switch next to the dizzy that has 2 vacumn pipes and an electric connector, check that is all connected, I renewd this on the Storm as well just as a recaution, it was £12 from the dealer!

Ref the low pressure buzzer, clean up the terminal with a bit of emery cloth.

[the edmundator]

Thanks, I'll take a look. Which terminals for the oil pressure buzzer should I be checking, and where are they?

[the edmundator]

Well, I've fixed the oil buzzer. It didn't make a sound for ages, but then started buzzing again. I hit the top of the dashboard and it stopped.

The fuel economy gauge is still doing its own thing. The needle remains AWOL. The gear-change light comes on in all gears, even 5th when it is meant to stay off since there is no 6th gear to change up to. Can someone explain to me how this thing works (specifically, how it's meant to know what gear it's in)?

[Funky Diver]

The gear-change light comes on in all gears, even 5th when it is meant to stay off since there is no 6th gear to change up to. Can someone explain to me how this thing works (specifically, how it's meant to know what gear it's in)?

If it's anything like aftermarket bike guages, it works on the principle of rev speed from idle in correlation to speed. If the unit was somehow reset in 1st, it'll be one gear out as it'll think it started off in neutral. Just a stab in the dark.

[1lazza]

Hi Ed -

Two random thoughts...Are you absolutely sure the oil buzzer wasn't a leaf in the vents making a similar sound? (Was the red oil warning light illuminated as well?)

On the gear change lamp - I am assuming it is the one in the new Gti, we checked this on the test drive, and was OK at the time, therefore probably something was disturbed during its recent trip to the garage. Quite likely to be a vacuum leak somewhere.
Hope everything settles down - these kind of niggles are annoying.

[ianaudia4]

Ed, the gear change up light def sounds like a vacumn pipe, also check the one behind the clocks. I will take a photo of the vacumn pipes in my Storm tomorrow and post them up for you. I will also dig out the part number of the little gizmo that is sat near the dizzy.

[the edmundator]

Hi Ed -

Two random thoughts...Are you absolutely sure the oil buzzer wasn't a leaf in the vents making a similar sound? (Was the red oil warning light illuminated as well?)

No, it's definitely a buzzer. I think there's a loose connection behind the clocks. Warning light doesn't come on, which is why I think it's a poor connection/earthing problem or something like that.

On the gear change lamp - I am assuming it is the one in the new Gti, we checked this on the test drive, and was OK at the time, therefore probably something was disturbed during its recent trip to the garage.

Don't worry, it's the red GTI. (The silver one has a working economy gauge, but no sign of a gear change light, which doesn't really bother me).

Ed, the gear change up light def sounds like a vacumn pipe, also check the one behind the clocks. I will take a photo of the vacumn pipes in my Storm tomorrow and post them up for you. I will also dig out the part number of the little gizmo that is sat near the dizzy.

I looked at all the vacuum pipes I could find in the engine bay, so my money's probably on something going on behind the clocks. I hate taking the clocks out.

[1lazza]

Phew! paranoia satisfied...

[ianaudia4]

Ed, here are some picture that I took of my Storm, and also the part number for the black switch/vacumn junction.
Hope they help.

[Funky Diver]

What is thatgoing into on the right Ian? Just out of interest really :D

[ianaudia4]

What thing? That picture is upside down.

[PeteGLi]

The round thingy with the electrical plug and the vacuum tube coming off it, is connected in the vacuum line between the distributor and the throttle body.

I cannot see any more right of the picture than that ....

[ianaudia4]

That black thing is the switch for the gear change indicator, the first picture of the box is the part number.

[Funky Diver]

aaaah, it's the Vac Advance on the Dizzy. Sweet.

I'm gonna have a play with one of those there little gizmo's, might come in handy for my master plan, hehe