Electrical problems

[joew@LG.COM (Joe Williamson)]

Benton,

>The rear defroster and wiper on my '81 don't work....

After you check the fuses, etc, check the wires themselves at the hatch.
Mine had the same problem.  After years of use, fatigue broke several of the
wires where they transit from the body to the hatch, near the hinges.  

>The alternator light has a dim to not so dim glow when the
>headlights are on.

Yeah, fairly common.  If I remember this correctly (eh, it could happen..)
the idiot light is an important and integral part of the excitation circuit
for the alternator. The brighter the glow, the more current that is being
drawn from the battery to excite the field.  Could be a bad ground, as you
say, or could be the regulator.

The relay conversion is probably a good idea in 1st gen Sciroccos.  I put
the Euro Hellas in mine and toasted the switch in short order.  Melted, in
fact.  Seems these switches are at the very edge of their current carying
capability.  Luckily, they are easy to replace.  Just squeeze and pull from
the rear...

A side note...  Some of the VW headlamp switches were designed to
accommodate a lighted headlamp symbol on the switch.  The switch plug has
the socket cutout for one of those wacky VW dash light bulbs.  So, a few
wires and connectors later, you too can have a lighted headlamp switch.
Just one of those things that probably serves no useful purpose whatsoever,
but is kinda neat.  Check out junked Quantums for light-friendly headlamp
switches.

Another, possibly more useful, addition is a headlamp reminder.  I snagged a
door/headlamp/key-in chime from an Audi.  Plugs right in to the VW socket.
Did this mostly because I can't stand the buzzer that came in the car.  The
Audi chime has an input for headlamp warning that can be wired to the
headlamp switch.  Just run a wire from the parking lights to this pin, and
you're done.

With all the lights and bells, you too can have that "I'm in a Honda" feeling ;)

Joe.

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