Hi all, New owner of an 81 Rabbit LS diesel

Technical questions and answers concerning all models of VW diesel vehicles.

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soultrondds
Glow Plug
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Feb 14, 2018 1:47 am

Hi all, New owner of an 81 Rabbit LS diesel

Post by soultrondds »

This Rabbit is in my possesion and I'm trying to correct a few ills and get it on the road. This seems like a place I could get some answers.
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The previous owner said has some odd wiring and was working it out. it was... well, bad.
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I am new to diesel but so far when I jump the starter, fuel cut solenoid, and heat the glow plugs a bit it starts right up. However, nothing else works.
I got got a harness to swap in but it's actually a gas one. So it's diesel in the engine bay, and a gas underdash harness and fusebox.
Being that I am not that good at reading schematics, this may be fun.

So anyway, hi!
nate_o
Cetane Booster
Posts: 38
Joined: Sun Jul 21, 2013 1:56 pm
Location: Ohio

Re: Hi all, New owner of an 81 Rabbit LS diesel

Post by nate_o »

Wow you are brave! But other then the wiring it looks in pretty good shape. Best of luck!
91 VW Jetta 1.6L Turbo
Fatmobile
Global Moderator
Posts: 7564
Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2002 10:28 pm
Location: north central Iowa

Re: Hi all, New owner of an 81 Rabbit LS diesel

Post by Fatmobile »

Sounds like a good start.
That fuse box is pretty easy to figure out.
All the wires go to fuses or relays and you can see where they go from the back. Not like the early fuse boxes that disappear into the back with no idea where they go.
'91 Golf gasser converted to a 12mm pump, M-TDI.
'84 1.6TD Rabbit with a VNT-15 turbo, still setup to run on vegetable oil.
'84 GTI with 1.7TD pistons and intercooled.
2003 TDI wagon
2000 TDI Jetta.
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