Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

'96 GTI VR6 electrical gremlins

1 view
Skip to first unread message

Cb61

unread,
Aug 23, 1999, 3:00:00 AM8/23/99
to
My GTI does all types of goofy electrical stuff. The moonroof will not close
with the key anymore, and occasionally when I start the car, some warning light
(often the ABS caution light, but you can pick any) will come on. Last night it
was accompanied by a total lack of dash lights. I pulled over, shut off the
ignition, waited 2 sec., fired it back up and everything worked fine again.
This car also ate its stock battery in 2 1/2 years, but I put this down to VW's
practice of putting shitty stuff on their cars to keep the purchase price down.
Has anyone else had similar electrical woes?

Shakermkr

unread,
Aug 23, 1999, 3:00:00 AM8/23/99
to
Ive got a 97GTI VR6, which I bought about 6 months ago. Before the warranty
ended I had took the car to the dealer for the problem of my instrument cluster
guages falling, e.g. fuel dropping to "E" or tach drop from idle to zero then
back to normal again, this would happen only when the engine was cold. The
previous owner had Nology wires installed.
The dealer said that the cause of the problem was the Nology wires. They
replaced the instrument cluster & installed factory wires-- since then the
guages have been fine.
I emailed Nology--they believe that the problem probably only came about
because of a faulty or "weak" cluster. They had never came across this problem
with any other VR6.--they could be right but I dont want to risk damaging this
cluster now that the car is out of warranty.

*I have noticed that my right side turn signal does flash about twice as fast
than the left, this usually indicates that a bulb has gone bad, but they all
check ok. Got any clues?
No other elec problems to date.

GTI VR6
84 GTI

Kevin Collins

unread,
Aug 23, 1999, 3:00:00 AM8/23/99
to
Shakermkr wrote:

> I emailed Nology--they believe that the problem probably only came about
> because of a faulty or "weak" cluster. They had never came across this problem
> with any other VR6.--they could be right but I dont want to risk damaging this
> cluster now that the car is out of warranty.

Nology is snake oil anyways.. you're fine without them.



> *I have noticed that my right side turn signal does flash about twice as fast
> than the left, this usually indicates that a bulb has gone bad, but they all
> check ok. Got any clues?

Bad ground someplace, or loose bulb (more likely).


--
Kevin Collins
'86.5 Scirocco 16V 2.0
'99 GTI GLX
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Factory/1780

Cosmic Knight

unread,
Aug 24, 1999, 3:00:00 AM8/24/99
to
OK...

I could swear I used to be abe to open my moonroof with the key, but the
other day I noticed it didn't work.

Am I crazy, or can you only close the moonroof with the key?


Kevin Collins wrote in message <37C1DC0F...@flashcom.net>...

Jerry

unread,
Aug 24, 1999, 3:00:00 AM8/24/99
to
do they have 2 relays? one could be "heavy duty" and the other a
standard replacement. been there...

84 VW GTI ex-scca / turbo (225hp)
80 VW "Caddy" drag truck (under const) 600hp (8.40@150mph)
69 VW bug / 70 chassis (57hp)
Jerry


Kevin Collins

unread,
Aug 24, 1999, 3:00:00 AM8/24/99
to
Cosmic Knight wrote:

> I could swear I used to be abe to open my moonroof with the key, but the
> other day I noticed it didn't work.

> Am I crazy, or can you only close the moonroof with the key?

You should also be able to open it. Go here:

http://www.panix.com/~aqn/GTI_VR6/gti_vr6/library/

... and search the page for "resetting" for something you can try. Note that
the site is password protected - username driver, pw hired.

Good luck.. and you still may be crazy.

Ian Frechette

unread,
Aug 28, 1999, 3:00:00 AM8/28/99
to
In article <kuow3.9258$ok3....@news.rdc1.il.home.com>,
Cosmic Knight <cosmic...@home.com> wrote:
>OK...

>
>I could swear I used to be abe to open my moonroof with the key, but the
>other day I noticed it didn't work.
>
>Am I crazy, or can you only close the moonroof with the key?

You're crazy. ;)

No, you can't open the moonroof with the key.
The simplest way I know to respond to this question is with another question.
"Which way would you want it to open?"

Personally I'd rather have it pop up instead of slide open, but
many people would want it the other way. Therefore the feature
does not exist, despite what Kevin says.

ian

Kevin Collins

unread,
Aug 29, 1999, 3:00:00 AM8/29/99
to
Ian Frechette wrote:

> No, you can't open the moonroof with the key.
> The simplest way I know to respond to this question is with another question.
> "Which way would you want it to open?"

> Personally I'd rather have it pop up instead of slide open, but
> many people would want it the other way. Therefore the feature
> does not exist, despite what Kevin says.

Haven't tried it on my '99 Mk4, but my '97 definitely opened the moonroof
with the key.. it slid open, not tilted.

The Hutchisons

unread,
Aug 29, 1999, 3:00:00 AM8/29/99
to
I just bought a 97 Passat VR6 wagon and all the windows and the moon roof
can be either opened or closed with the key, definitely.

mh
Ian Frechette wrote in message <7q9pcs$7...@peabody.colorado.edu>...


>In article <kuow3.9258$ok3....@news.rdc1.il.home.com>,
>Cosmic Knight <cosmic...@home.com> wrote:
>>OK...
>>
>>I could swear I used to be abe to open my moonroof with the key, but the
>>other day I noticed it didn't work.
>>
>>Am I crazy, or can you only close the moonroof with the key?
>
>You're crazy. ;)
>

>No, you can't open the moonroof with the key.
>The simplest way I know to respond to this question is with another
question.
>"Which way would you want it to open?"
>
>Personally I'd rather have it pop up instead of slide open, but
>many people would want it the other way. Therefore the feature
>does not exist, despite what Kevin says.
>

> ian

0 new messages