VW Golf Mk2 Owners Club

Technical => Technical => I.C.E & Electrical => Topic started by: GarynW7 on July 23, 2021, 09:33:19 AM

Title: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: GarynW7 on July 23, 2021, 09:33:19 AM
Hi all,

I have recently purchased a mk2 1.8 8v 1990 which I bought as a project knowing there was small issues.
The speedo, Rev Counter, and Temp Gauge is not working.

I have traced the coil wires (red & black) back to the fuse box where a lot of wires have been cut I have read online about the pinning etc.
I have got the Rev counter to work but now the oil pressure light is flashing with the annoying buzzer noise. I know I don't have a pressure problem so thinking I have pulled the wire to the wrong place on the pin (PIN12).

On top of this the speedo is not working correctly, I have changed the cable (twice) and have also changed the worm gear in gear box as mine was not the best. Now my clocks are working but are flickering and making a clicking noise. I cut the end off the old cable which was snapped and put into a drill and the clock still flickers.

Can someone tell me the actual pinning sequence for the instrument cluster (number to colour and where they go) and also if the speedo issue is common? if so has anyone got a speedo for sale I have spare for the whole cluster but no spare speedo.

Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: Eddypeck on July 23, 2021, 01:00:46 PM
Point to note, being a 1990 your car could be cross over from CE1 to CE2 (CE=Central Electrics)

If your hazard switch is a rocker switch on the dash panel you have CE1 if the hazard switch is a push button on top of the steering column you have CE2.

The instrument cluster is different across these. 2 plugs for CE 1 and 1 plug for CE2, another way to tell is the temp warning LED is in the gauge on CE1, but is in the central LED row on CE2.

There's also 2 brands, VDO and Motometer, so ideally you want to replacement Speedo to match your existing cluster. They are interchangeable but dosen't look right when mix and match.

I do have a couple of old CE1 clusters and a selection of old parts including loose Speedos, I'm afraid I don't have any CE2 spares if that's what you have.

With regards to the cable, the fit on the back of the speedo is very tight and sometimes it doesn't always click into place so would give the issue you report. But if you've run it on a drill then I guess the issue is within the speedo itself.
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: GarynW7 on July 24, 2021, 08:43:35 AM
Thanks for the quick response.
Min looks to be the ce2, hazzard below the sluster on a push button and single plug.
I managed to get a spare set of clocks as I thought they were instantly the problem ( for a bargain £20) but the clip on for the Speedo had snapped which looks like the only part I need haha.

I will find a new Speedo and put that in the old cluster hopefully this will fix the problem.

Any idea on the oil pressure warding etc?
I have had to run a new wire to the fuse board for the rev counter to work as I only have two wires on the coil from purchase?
Cheers
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: Eddypeck on July 24, 2021, 12:02:16 PM
Have you checked/replaced the actual pressure switch? I think it’s the side of the head, although there’s another on top of the oil filter housing and I forget which is which
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: scs on July 24, 2021, 02:53:53 PM
the filter housing one is the oil temp for the mfa.
scs
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: GarynW7 on July 26, 2021, 04:47:07 PM
I will get one ordered up this week and swap it out hoping to get the car ready for Bristol, been a while since I was at a meet haha.
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: Eddypeck on July 26, 2021, 05:01:23 PM
I will get one ordered up this week and swap it out hoping to get the car ready for Bristol, been a while since I was at a meet haha.

Volksfest? my car won't be ready now :-(
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: scs on July 27, 2021, 08:47:49 PM
slight hi jack of your post my digital display in the instrument cluster does not work. Do you want to part with the digital display
scs
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: Eddypeck on July 28, 2021, 09:21:50 AM
slight hi jack of your post my digital display in the instrument cluster does not work. Do you want to part with the digital display
scs

I'll check the condition of what I have but I think I may have already parted the good one out.
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: scs on July 28, 2021, 09:24:04 AM
Thanks for that
scs
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: t2000 on July 28, 2021, 06:58:40 PM
slight hi jack of your post my digital display in the instrument cluster does not work. Do you want to part with the digital display
scs

You can get new replacements, they are pretty good as well https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203291990444?hash=item2f552599ac:g:zkAAAOSwJH1ZNlry
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: scs on July 28, 2021, 07:50:32 PM
Thanks for that I believe they are for ce1 electrics only I need ce2.
scs
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: t2000 on July 28, 2021, 08:59:07 PM
Thanks for that I believe they are for ce1 electrics only I need ce2.
scs

I don't think so as I am sure they have been fitted to a CE1 and CE2 car by a couple of guys I know but will ask to check.
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: scs on July 29, 2021, 10:56:44 AM
Thankyou for that that could be really handy.
scs
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: t2000 on July 29, 2021, 02:25:49 PM
Thankyou for that that could be really handy.
scs

Spoke to my mate who fitted one to my old CE1 and he confirmed his mate also fitted the same one to a big bumper CE2, hope it helps.
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: GarynW7 on August 05, 2021, 08:59:49 AM
Just an update, I've managed to now get the Speedo changed out so it is now working the rev counter is working along with the fuel gauge but still no temp gauge and the dreaded oil buzzer is going off above 2000 rpm, I have changed every sensor on the car and still no joy any suggestions? I believe it is a wiring issue
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: Monkey on August 05, 2021, 09:22:24 AM
If it's going off above 2000rpm, that's your oil pressure switch.
Find the cable and ground it to the chassis.
If it stops it going off, it's a switch problem, if it doesn't, it's a cable problem.

Silly question, you have got the two pressure switches the right way around?
One is high pressure, one is low.
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: GarynW7 on August 05, 2021, 02:09:08 PM
I will try grounding when I next get in the garage having a 6 week old and a MK2 project wasn't my best idea ever haha. I believe they are correct they hav all been changed for like for like items unless the wrong one was in when I purchased the car :/
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: Monkey on August 05, 2021, 02:50:37 PM
They are very similar, it's possible if everything was swapped at the same time, wires could have been crossed.
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: GarynW7 on August 12, 2021, 08:11:01 AM
Another update.
Managed to get in the garage this morning (at 3am :/ ) and put the new sensors in and still nothing! What is the best way to rewire? Do the sensor wires go back to the fuse board? If so does anyone know the pinning possition?
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: Monkey on August 12, 2021, 09:40:58 AM
Here you go, this website is invaluable for wiring info.
http://www.xjamiex.com/mk2resource/electrical/CE2.html
I'm assuming yours is CE2?

Worth putting the cables down to earth, see if it still does it.
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: GarynW7 on August 17, 2021, 07:37:17 PM
RESULT!!!
Thanks to all that helped, ended up tracing all the wires back in the loom removing all the protective sheath and found majority of the dash wiring cut and the pins removed from the fuse board plugs.
Had to rewire everything and hey presto everything is working. Next step is a bit of body work and get her wrapped ready for volksfest wales.

Any stands going there this year?
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: scs on August 17, 2021, 07:41:46 PM
checking google volksfest wales is canceled until 2022
scs
Title: Re: Instrument cluster trouble!
Post by: GarynW7 on August 19, 2021, 07:13:16 PM
No way :/ any other shows left this year now?