[Vwdiesel] Seemingly related problems aren't always!

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

  I had a fun encounter the other day on Dad's instrument cluster.  It had a
few
problem.  Several in fact!  Items not working:  Odometer, clock, fuel gauge,
temperature gauge.  Odometer was obvious.  A cracked gear.  A little
cyanocrylate and a soldering iron, for good measure and it was fixed.  I
figured
the electrical stuff HAD to have a common element.  It turned out it did but
didn't.  The only thing was common was breaks in the plastic PC board!  Both
gauges weren't making contact between the "traces" and the copper ring
where the nuts fasten the gauge to the cluster.  The copper had cracked
around
one ring on each gauge.  The lead going to the clock had also cracked and it
was fairly obvious.  The rings weren't except by testing.  All fixed right?
Wrong!
I still didn't have contact to the gauges.  It turned out that one leg of the
voltage
stabilizer (voltage regulator) wasn't plugged into it's socket!  All works
now but
it sure wasn't something like ONE loose wire or a blown fuse!
  On the 5000 TD;  It looks like I won't be going after it.  After 3 e-mails
to
the guy, I've gotten one response.  It's unclear as to whether he's actually
overhauled, replaced or just inspected the block.  The head's been replaced.
For having 20 years as a "master Audi technician" he was too vague on his
description of the work done, for me to cross nearly 3 states for.  He didn't
even tell how many miles had gone on the car since the work that he said
had been done.  THAT work was done the day before he bought the car.
  Too bad.  I was hoping for a quick resurrection of the 5000.  I'd rather it
take a little longer and know EXACTLY what's in my engine!  Bummer.  :(
     Loren