[Vwdiesel] 81 Rabbit electrical woes

[Roger Brown]

James Hansen wrote:
> Hey Rolf.
> I've had this very thing happen to me.
> I washed my 81 Jetta on a ski trip to Kelowna when it was new to me.
> 4 dead plugs.
> Really sucked getting home, and getting around to Big White, Silver Star 
> etc, BUT, examination of the deal was that the water pooled in the GP 
> relay, and kept the circuit closed- fed 12v to the plugs continuously 
> until they died.
> 
> You need a new relay, and new glow plugs, no biggie.
> I also build a silicone dam above the relay now to prevent it from 
> suddden unexpected showers, and just deflect the water away from that 
> area, AND run a permanent led to the bus bar to tell me if the plugs are 
> live when I drive down the road.
> cheers
> -james

What I do with the VW relays is to drill small weep holes in the two lower corners of the 
relay can (as it sits plugged into the socket).  This allows any water that might get in 
to quickly drain out and dry out the insides of the relay.  For those relays were the 
cover for the relay won't come off easily, I just touch the corner of the can to a 
grinding wheel until it wears through a small hole.

And x2 on the light on the glow plugs themselves.  I used a pair of LED windshield washer 
nozzles and wired one to each side of the GP fusible link on the firewall.  I needed to 
replace the original nozzles as mine were plugged and bent and the LED ones serve a double 
purpose.

-- 

   Roger