[Vwdiesel] Temp guage and Headlights

[Sandy Cameron]

At 02:43 AM 4/13/02 EDT, Loren wrote:
>> When I turn on my headlights my temperature gauge goes down a bit.  I don't
>> remember that happening before.  Any suggestions on the cause?
>>
>  How about the fuel gauge too?  My first thought is the voltage stabilizer.
>     Loren


Check the main dash grounding tree (above the hood release on the quarter
panel with all the drown wires plugged onto it) check for water dammage, or
just old age. wiggle each of the ground wires gently to improve the contact.

Also important to periodically renovate the chassis ground point behind the
battery where the middle of the ground cable is bolted to the frame rail.
This needs to be cleaned and greased every couple of years in salty climates
to ensure good ground.
This ground, when bad, can cause all sorts of strange insrument and control
problems.

As a gesture of defiance to the malevolent volks electrical engineers, I
have also run a HEAVY positive cable to the starter, and a similar one from
negative, to one of the starter mounting bolts. Winter starting is much
improved. This does not excuse the body ground, which must be retained in
good shape if you want your guages and lights to work properly.

Sandy