Re: Headlight problems & not starting

[Kevin <aventari@cts.com>]

even though you're a Mac user, I'll help ya. :)

these are standard problems on Sciroccos, especially old, high mileage
Mk1's like yours and mine. It's most likely some connections at the back of
the fusebox, and/or the fuse box itself. This explains the intermittent
quality of your headlight prob. Whenever I have stupid electrical probs, my
ox light starts acting up too. ??!

If you haven't yet, get some new battery cables, and add a bunch of ground
straps in the engine compartment. This will solve 90% of starting probs
like the one your having.
run some 8-10 gauge wire from the neg cable to the coil mouting plate, from
the front crossmember to the block, or alternator mounting(with the ground
from the back of the alt) and anywhere else you can think of!!

About this list going down: NO!!!!!!!!!!! this SUCKS! I hope someone is
able to host it soon



At 11:02 AM 10/28/98 -0800, you wrote:
>Hi everyone,
>
>I have a couple problems that I hope you might be able to help me with.
>
>First, the passenger-side low-beam headlight on my '81 Scirocco has ceased
>to function.  The high beam goes on, but not the low beam.  I've checked the
>bulb (which works perfectly in the driver's side) as well as the fuse (I
>even took it out and cleaned the contacts).  I've check as much of the
>wiring as I can see easily (the connector on the back of the light, etc.). 
>The problem seems to be intermittent, too--it worked for about a week but
>hasn't worked since.
>
>My dad (the original owner of the car) swears that some of the relays under
>the dash control the headlights and that the lights have occasionally not
>gone on at all unless he tapped the relays.  I can't understand why the
>passenger low-beam would be separate from the driver-side, though.
>
>Also, I've started having trouble getting the car to start.  The starter
>turns the engine over at the normal speed, but the engine won't start.  It
>doesn't seem to be related to temperature--it happens both when the engine
>is cold and warmed up.  The car got a complete tune-up a few months ago
>(plugs, cap, rotor, etc.) so I don't think that's the problem.
>
>About the same time this started, my OXS idiot light started staying on
>after I started the engine (until I sped the engine up).  I mentioned this
>at the VW dealership the other day and the guy said that "Sciroccos are
>notorious for needing a little extra throttle at startup to make the fuel
>injection system work properly."  Is this true or is there something wrong? 
>Neither of these things (not starting and OXS idiot light) has been a
>problem before (the car has over 216,000 original miles on it without ANY
>problems).
>
>If anyone has any suggestions for things I might try to get my light working
>again and getting the engine to start normally, I'd REALLY appreciate
>hearing them.  (The last thing I need is to get stranded somewhere or to get
>a "fix-it" ticket!)
>
>Thanks in advance for your help; I've really enjoyed all the information
>that's available on the list!
>
>John Woodward: <http://gladstone.uoregon.edu/~jwoodwar>
>Macintosh EvangeLista (visit <www.evangelist.macaddict.com> for information)
>
>THINK DIFFERENT!  THINK APPLE!
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------
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>on to get the really tough jobs done quickly and efficiently."
>
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>
- --
Kevin Fry .:. 81 Scirocco S -- Now with JH power!
      San Diego, CA
"If God had meant for us to use the metric system, we would've been born
with ten fingers and ten toes."
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