Re: Oh Dear - Electrical Probs 83 5ks

[Huw Powell <audi@mediaone.net>]

> Minor annoyances include intermittent inst cluster backlight (along
> with air cond control backlight).  A sharp thwap on the dash would
> sometimes bring them both back to life.

Keep on thwapping.

>  Neither window on the right
> side of the car works, and the switches are not to blame. 

Prove to us that the switches are not to blame?  I don't know if I still
some old spare regulators in your style, I might.

> When I
> return, I start the car and the buzzer is still yelling, and the alt
> light is still on.  The sunroof will still not close.  As I'm driving
> home, I notice that the seatbelt light and the OXS light (formerly
> always brightly illuminated) were both dimly glowing.  As I stop to
> turn into my house, I use the blinker.  The blinker light still worked
> and, strangely, if the blinkers (either) or flashers were on, the
> buzzing stopped.  The alt light was still on, but, would dim slightly
> when the turn sig. indicator was "on."  The seatbelt light and oxs
> light would go from very dim to slightly less dim when the turn signal
> indicator was "on."

first place to check is the alternator brushes.  My car is a bit
different but when my alternator stops alternating (brushes or belt bad)
not only its little light but three others come on.  Weird, but it's the
way they are wired.

So do a charging system workup, clean a lot of connections, measure a
lot of voltages...

> Remember - pressing the
> sunroof button was what started everything! 

Coincidence does not imply causation.

-- 
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi/

82 Audi Coupe; 84 4kq; 85 Coupe GT; 73 F250

http://people.ne.mediaone.net/audi/thoughts.htm