Re: urq battery warning light

[Geoff Jones <geoffreyjones@sprintmail.com>]

Raudi83TQ@aol.com wrote:
> 
> Bob
> 
> I was into archives and found a 1995 post about dim bat warning when turn
> signal was on. I have this same problem. It started after replacing the
> headlights with Hella euro lights. I have been told that the older flasher
> module sucks up about 8 amps and is the cause of the problem. I found no
> answer to your post in the old stuff. What did you find?
> 
> TIA
> John
> 83urq (2/82 bd, #82)

John,

I had the same problem with my Ur-Q.  I ignored the dimly glowing battery warning 
light for almost 3 months.  One day, on the way to Boston, I began to smell the 
acrid burning smell of insulation melting on copper wire!!!  Here I am, stopped in
rush hour traffic, watching ever increasing amounts of smoke curl up from under the 
dash!!!

I made it to my parking garage without a fire...but it scared me to death!  Turns out
the "high quality" fuse box...straight from a VW rabbit of the same vintage just couldn't
handle the load after fifteen years.  The two large major plugs on the back, Battery 
and Ignition began to melt and weld the plastic to everything in sight!

Moral of the story...I hope this scares you enough to attend to the problem...Quickly!
Tim at eurosport and about $150.00 later I was back on the road with considerably 
more peace of mind.

BTW, the faint glow only occured with the turn signals on, or slightly with high beams 
lit!

Geoff Jones
Amherst, NH
'82 Ur-Q (11/81 bd, USA
'93 S4