Former VWDieselParts.com Forum

My 1986 Golf Diesel speedometer and clock that work fine but my instrument lights do not come on. I tore the plastic or mylar circuit board when I replaced my speedometer. Any one have an old plastic circuit board that runs a speedometer and analog clock?

I wonder if a gasser plastic circuit board would work?

If it has a clock instead of a tach it should work.

On the MK1s it's the same circuit if it's a GTI with a tach as the NA diesel with a clock.
I forgot to check my stash of MK2 clusters/circuits.

if you can solder, you can repair the printed circuit using small gauge wire to bridge the tear in the printed circuit. Just scrape off the outer layer of plastic insulation to expose the copper printed circuit, and solder the bridging wire to it. Once done, clean off the repair and cover it with a thin film of dielectric grease to prevent corrosion. Done it myself on an old chevy truck when the owner didn't have any spare parts for it.

Can you suggest any specialist that would be capable of such surgery? Would I need a special solder if I attempt it myself?

I think there are special solders that flow at a lower temp,.. maybe silver solder?
I found a bunch of MK2 gasser clusters but forgot to take a pic.
None of them had a clock or glow plug light.
All my MK2 diesel ones have tachs.

silver solder flows at higher temps than tin-lead solders

there are conductive epoxies for circuit repair too, not sure how good the conductivity is but worth checking around on the internet. We used to use indium solder on some of our electronic assemblies where we have similar temperature issues but I don't recall if that was higher or lower temp solder. I have soldered to flex circuit too and it takes a very careful touch to avoid damaging the flex material. Narrow tip with good heat range on the tip (600-700 F or so) and a quick touch might work. You might also find something instructional on youtube on this kind of repair. Maybe search for flex circuit repair.

bscutt wrote: it takes a very careful touch to avoid damaging the flex material. Narrow tip with good heat range on the tip (600-700 F or so) and a quick touch might work.

thats exactly how I did it