Build Thread: Victoria, my 1990 Jetta GLI

[VDub2625]

Not sure what you mean (I've never dealt with another manufacturer's alt wiring), but this is the whole circuit in the cluster if it's helpful:


This is for a 90-92 CE2 MFA cluster, like the OP has. Maybe you can sort it out. The battery light LED is supplied switched 12v by the black trace, which then travels through the light blue trace (this is the back of the cluster, so the battery light on the left center is mirrored to the right center position). It then passes through a resistor that limits the voltage to the LED so it won't burn out, then connects to the teal colored trace, which passes through a diode to the other baby blue trace out to the alternator. If that is grounded, the battery light will come on. The load put on the exciter wire is by the two big resistors that also connect to the teal trace, and they are supplied with 12v as well. This also means if the cluster is unplugged the alt won't charge.

[akern2]

Might seem a bit dumb, but did the battery light work in the first place?

[Volkswageneer1990]

Damn! I know you got that off of "greatfox". Nice piece.

Yep, good man

Apparently

Any of those points can help. You need to ground it at different points along the wire until you see the desired result, that will help isolate the problem.

Haha well at least I went and found the plug and the harness pin

The desired result is that the battery light comes on correct? And if it does, then at which ever point I grounded it at is the problem?

Not sure what you mean (I've never dealt with another manufacturer's alt wiring), but this is the whole circuit in the cluster if it's helpful:


This is for a 90-92 CE2 MFA cluster, like the OP has. Maybe you can sort it out. The battery light LED is supplied switched 12v by the black trace, which then travels through the light blue trace (this is the back of the cluster, so the battery light on the left center is mirrored to the right center position). It then passes through a resistor that limits the voltage to the LED so it won't burn out, then connects to the teal colored trace, which passes through a diode to the other baby blue trace out to the alternator. If that is grounded, the battery light will come on. The load put on the exciter wire is by the two big resistors that also connect to the teal trace, and they are supplied with 12v as well. This also means if the cluster is unplugged the alt won't charge.

Good info. I had to read this a couple times to actually see what you mean

So if I am correct, I could also ground the blue trace and the light comes on, it is the cluster?

Might seem a bit dumb, but did the battery light work in the first place?

A while back it did, when I put the key in the ON position it turned on. And when I started the car, it went out.

[Volkswageneer1990]

OKKKKK! Another update concerning the charging issues.

I took the alternator to AutoZone to get it checked and possibly get a new one. A brand new one would have set me back $125 with the upside of it being shiny and having a lifetime warranty. However before buying it I tested the old one and found that it PASSED! So now I'm stummped.

I ran the grounding test on the single plug (T1/f) near the battery and the light still did not come on. So I opted to go ahead and take out the entire gauge cluster and check to see if the bulb is faulty. I am in the process of doing that.

Stay tuned for more: 15 year olds, Stummped Over Volkswagens That Are Older Than Them on NBC.

[VDub2625]

I figured the alt was good if the light wasn't coming on when you grounded the wire. You don't take the cluster completely out... it's an LED, you can't tell if it's blown by looking at it. You need to jump a ground wire into the battery light pin on the connector for the cluster on the back of the fuse box. if the light comes on, it's a wiring issue between the engine bay and cluster harness (including fuse box and/or front end harness). If it still doesn't, you can be assured it's a cluster or LED issue.

[Volkswageneer1990]

I figured the alt was good if the light wasn't coming on when you grounded the wire. You don't take the cluster completely out... it's an LED, you can't tell if it's blown by looking at it. You need to jump a ground wire into the battery light pin on the connector for the cluster on the back of the fuse box. if the light comes on, it's a wiring issue between the engine bay and cluster harness (including fuse box and/or front end harness). If it still doesn't, you can be assured it's a cluster or LED issue.

Ohh you don't take the cluster completely out...?





I would eventually have had to take it out when I fix the odometer, again.

I also ran that test you said. The light did not turn on. After taking it apart and testing the LED's with an external battery source, the LED's were bad. All of them except the High Beam and one Red one.

I replaced them now, and hopefully the stupid charging system works now...

[VDub2625]

Are you sure? They need 12v applied through the resistor on the circuit board. LEDs are easy to over-power, you may have blown them during testing. It's not common that they'll burn out in normal use so that is odd.

[Volkswageneer1990]

Are you sure? They need 12v applied through the resistor on the circuit board. LEDs are easy to over-power, you may have blown them during testing. It's not common that they'll burn out in normal use so that is odd.

Oh well yeah, I probably blew them. But now they all work fine. Hopefully this solves the problem.

And if it doesn't, what else could be the culprit?

[VDub2625]

Wiring, blue board, connectors.

[Volkswageneer1990]

Wiring, blue board, connectors.

Oh boy more electrical stuff.

[VDub2625]

Did you think the answer to an electrical problem was going to be a non electrical answer?

[Volkswageneer1990]

Did you think the answer to an electrical problem was going to be a non electrical answer?

I was really hoping that by the off chance it would be

Anyway, I put the cluster back in and was about to fire the car up, then I realized that the Tachometer needle was UNDER the little holder it has.

So after the 2nd time of putting everything back together, I put the key in and turned it to the ON position. The Battery Light came on



Then I jumpstarted the car, and it went out.



AND the car managed to stay on for a total of 23 minutes, before I turned it off my self, then succesfully restarted it, on its own power. It was a little rough starting (sounded like something was scratching or rubbing--metalwise) but it fired right up.

I also tested the voltage of the battery while running and got 13.38. The correct amount of voltage, which means that my problem was the LED in the cluster. The charging system is now passing.

On a seperate note, because I was in such good spirits, I put in some of the goodies I got in the mail a couple weeks ago.

Shift Boot:


Rear Window Switch Trim:
(Before)


(After)


I also held up the Westy steering wheel that I got from the junkyards on Saturday. A little teaser pic. I am not keeping it, I just wanted to see how it'd look.




On top of that, I test fitted a Premium Audio radio that I got off a Mk3 Jetta Trek. I think it looks alright. Comments?

[Volkswageneer1990]

And last but not least, thanks too:

Steve (steveo27)
and
Jason (Vdub2625)

and anyone else who gave forth some input towards my charging problem.

Many thanks!

[akern2]

Nice stereo. Not a Deluxe Audio, but apparently you can run some wires to do an AUX IN via the cd changer. I remember reading something about wiring so that when you go to CD 1, it will go to the aux.

[Volkswageneer1990]

Nice stereo. Not a Deluxe Audio, but apparently you can run some wires to do an AUX IN via the cd changer. I remember reading something about wiring so that when you go to CD 1, it will go to the aux.

Nuh-uh?! Thats awesome! But wait, it says CD but I don't see a slit anywhere for a CD. Or is it external? Before I go and do a search, do you know if there is a DIY on how to do it? It would be in the Mk3 Forum would't it?

[GreySheep]

Keep up the good work make me want a mkII

[Volkswageneer1990]

Keep up the good work make me want a mkII

Thanks me want a MK6 GLI.





Just kidding

[tunethtmkII]

Nuh-uh?! Thats awesome! But wait, it says CD but I don't see a slit anywhere for a CD. Or is it external? Before I go and do a search, do you know if there is a DIY on how to do it? It would be in the Mk3 Forum would't it?

its supposed to be external 6 disk changer.

[akern2]

its supposed to be external 6 disk changer.

^ this. I'd go ahead and search. I wouldn't be surprised if you find it in the mkIII section.

[The Janitor]

Awesome period goodies


If it weren't for the lack of CD use I would have kept my stock radio (not premium)

[Volkswageneer1990]

its supposed to be external 6 disk changer.

Sorry, I still don't see it. Where do the CD's go in?

[akern2]

Cd's go into something like this, which then goes into the Cd Changer. Usually they hold up to 6 cd's.

[Volkswageneer1990]

Cd's go into something like this, which then goes into the Cd Changer. Usually they hold up to 6 cd's.

Hmmm, interesting. And I took a look over at the MkIII Forum and did a search but came up with not a lot of good info. Any tips on how to go about adding a 3mm Audio Jack?

[VDub2625]

LOL, confused what a changer looks like, time moves on I guess

You would need to burn a CD with all blank audio, and put a Y connector on the RCA connectors on the CD changer and run them to an external source (the radio mutes them when a CD is not playing). Though I think they make little boxes the trick the changer into playing audio with no CD.

[Volkswageneer1990]

LOL, confused what a changer looks like, time moves on I guess

You would need to burn a CD with all blank audio, and put a Y connector on the RCA connectors on the CD changer and run them to an external source (the radio mutes them when a CD is not playing). Though I think they make little boxes the trick the changer into playing audio with no CD.

Hahaha sorry, my parents cars both have CD changers but I've never seen the actual changer though. But time does in fact move on

Couldn't I just solder some wires to connect with the pigtails on the back of the radio? Only thing is, which one is the pigtail for the CD changer? A2 Resource says it's Pink but I don't see it, and the wire colors don't match up from what I can see.

[VDub2625]

it's thsat big one, you have a Clarion radio IIRC 9Panasonic used the pink connector). You won't have RCA connectors at the changer end IIRC so you can't do the RCA Y cable trick, and soldering wires won't do anything becuase the radio will not see any CD playing.

[Volkswageneer1990]

it's thsat big one, you have a Clarion radio IIRC 9Panasonic used the pink connector). You won't have RCA connectors at the changer end IIRC so you can't do the RCA Y cable trick, and soldering wires won't do anything becuase the radio will not see any CD playing.

Damn. So there is no way to adapt an iPod?

[VDub2625]

Yes there is.

[Volkswageneer1990]

Yes there is.

How?

[VDub2625]

Look up several posts.

[mike000]

i knew your username looked familiar when you wrote on my thread! i browse through victoria's build thread from time to time lol. looking good as always! keep up the good work, sir.

[Volkswageneer1990]

i knew your username looked familiar when you wrote on my thread! i browse through victoria's build thread from time to time lol. looking good as always! keep up the good work, sir.

Haha yeah! Lol thanks for the kind words.

I just need to work on getting the paint to shine the way your 8V does

[SilberBora02]

You need one of these:

http://enfigcarstereo.com/ENFIG_VW12_IPD_AUX.html

Gives a choice to run RCA or iPod into your Premium Sound head unit.

[VDub2625]

That says it's for mk4 and above.

[SilberBora02]

That says it's for mk4 and above.

You sir are correct. However there is an 8-pin variant on the same site that will work. The one originally posted will only work with K-wire systems.