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No rev counter when headlights are on

Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 9:59 pm
by Ryan
So on Monday with the tax quickly running out, I set off in the Storm to drop it at the bodyshop (at last).
It must've known someh=thing was up...

Going up the A34 I decided to put the headlights on as it was pretty overcast... and the rev counter died.
Now it sometimes goes through phases of being really bouncy - with the needle wildly reacting to any bump in the road.
but it's never completely died before.

I turned the lights off straight away, and it jumped back to life... turned them on and nothing.

So I carried on for about 10 mins until I got to the bodyshop, and as soon as I turned off the main road, I switched the lights off.

Rev counter was back straight away, but then I notice the water temp needle spring into life (which I missed dying prevously)
Then the red light starts flashing for the temp as it continues to creep up.
Parked up, kept the engine running and popped the bonnet to check coolant level, which was a bit low, but not worrying.
20 seconds later the fan kicked in - but the warning light was still on.

Tuned it off and gave the bloke the keys! :hehe:

Anyway, any ideas what it might be?

Re: No rev counter when headlights are on

Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 12:57 am
by 81GTi
could be some sort of short at the back of the clocks. maybe around the voltage regulator for the temp gauge, i would check the lead from the coil to the rev counter before taking the clocks out, give it one of them technical wiggles and see if it is any better...

ps got your PM cheers

Re: No rev counter when headlights are on

Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 8:03 pm
by Turbogirlie
Have you fixed it yet?

Had similar problem with the GTX a while ago. Lost the speedo, rev counter was out, fuel gauge misreading & lights flashing on the dash - great fun!

The earthing wire off the rocker box cover had broken.

New, longer wire, all sorted!

Re: No rev counter when headlights are on

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 10:02 am
by Ryan
Can't look at it for a while as it's in the bodyshop

Re: No rev counter when headlights are on

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 9:33 pm
by Turbogirlie
Fair enough! The more I think on it, the more it sounds like the earth problem I had. Everything worked fine until I put the lights on, even on parking light.

Let us know how you get on once she's back from the bodyshop - what are you having done there then?

Re: No rev counter when headlights are on

Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 11:22 pm
by Ryan
Turbogirlie wrote:what are you having done there then?
The works
Image

Re: No rev counter when headlights are on

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 10:21 pm
by Turbogirlie
Nice one! :chill:

You won't regret it - had a heap of work done to my GTX - had her back on the road for 2 yrs now & still lovin every moment! :buddy:

Re: No rev counter when headlights are on

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 7:36 am
by Mr Funk
Can't wait to see it next year.

Re: No rev counter when headlights are on

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 5:33 pm
by Nate
my scala did this. the earth lead from the coil to the top of the engine was loose

Re: No rev counter when headlights are on

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 7:38 pm
by Ryan
Nate wrote:my scala did this. the earth lead from the coil to the top of the engine was loose
Cheers, I'll check it out when I next go up there.

Re: No rev counter when headlights are on

Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:18 pm
by mark1gls
When my Golf had the same problem I could get the rev counter to read 1/2 the amount of revs by dimming the dash lights, turned out to be a broken earth wire from the dash. I would guess its an earth wire some where.