Former VWDieselParts.com Forum

Also check the 5 amp fuse labeled "radio". It powers the whole dash cluster. If it's blown the battery won't charge, but it might take a while to notice.

We're talking about the whole dash cluster, right? Speedo and clock/tach and lights? There is a bulky plug back there that powers everything in the dash, I think it just pulls straight out towards the firewall. And unscrew the outer ring on the speedo cable clockwise (lefty loosey from behind). And ...

A new sound started today. When I turn to the left and start (or keep) moving I hear a moaning sound from the front end. It gets louder with more speed or more angle. Doesn't happen when turning right. I don't have power steering. I can't see anything that looks wrong, but I can't look while it's mo...

That's not necessarily a deal killer. I've driven 50k miles on my mismatched head and block since changing the headgasket.

I did all my high school driving in my dad's gas Rabbit. I learned some important lessons that might have gotten ugly in a more powerful car.

Check the 5 amp (brown) fuse marked "radio". It powers the instrument cluster. If it's blown the alt light won't come on and it won't charge.

That doesn't sound like a bad vacuum pump to me. When my diaphragm gives up every 2 years, no amount of tapping helps. I just have to press the brake pedal really hard.

Just fyi, when I was in your situation of putting a battery charger on it then running it down, I was getting about 20 starts out of it. I have a regular chain-store battery, nothing special.

I jacked it up and still felt it. Popped off the tie rod ends and still felt it. (Each wheel swiveled nice and smooth). All my boots are torn or lost their clamps. With the boot out of the way I turned the rack out as far as it would go. I scraped the crud out of the grooves and slapped some grease ...

When I turn the steering wheel, it's not smooth anymore. Like there are stiff spots in the turning range. It's worse when turning right. I've felt it once in a while for the past 150 miles or so, but it's constant as of today. The ride is smooth otherwise, car tracks nice and straight. Front tires a...

There is a 5 amp (brown) fuse marked "RADIO" in the fusebox that powers the red alternator light and the instrument cluster. If that fuse is blown, the alternator won't charge. It will blow if there's a short anywhere in the cluster.

11mm headbolts are reuseable. The 12mm bolts have to be replaced every time.

Would you say you tend to be lucky or unlucky?

With an 11mm block, you can use a 12mm head or an 11mm head. It is crucial to have the holes for your bolts or studs very clean. Any crud in there makes cracking more likely. If your reservoir is leaking, it should be wet. But there are lots of other places for leaks. Do you know if you have a head ...

My 11mm block with stock bolts is so far, so good. Knocking on wood. Seems like they are more likely to crack, but no one can say how much more likely.

Every 2 years I have to put a new diaphragm in my vacuum pump, when I get similar symptoms- it'll stop but i have to stand on the pedal. Takes about an hour including swapping out the other bits included in the kit (avilable elsewhere on the internet, not carried by our host.) If you have a mityvac,...