B3 Wagon.... issue after issue solved

[sciroccodriver]

This might get longwinded... If you remember my last few posts about electrical problems then you'll appreciate what I found. I had a problem with a short somewhere involving the instrument lights and radiator fan where the radiator fan came on with the headlights whether the car was running or not. I also found that if I turned on an AC switch with the car running the instrument lights came on even though the headlight switch was off. My first thought was the relay that shuts off the fans/ac/etc when starting the car so the relay was first. Nada. I looked from the front bumper all the way to the fuse block for a short by unwrapping all the wires. I replaced switches, the instrument cluster, ALL relays... nada. I even swapped out the fuse block itself. Nada. The ignition switch was causing the automatic seatbelts not to work.... fixed that but still nada on the radiator/instrument lights. Then something that I noticed while swapping out the fuseblock came back to memory.... .there was a grey/blue wire (ie instrument/accessory light) connected with a single wire plug to a red/white wire behind the fuse block. There weren't any others like that... the colors match. DUH. So it just happened to be connected to the 31 Relay which is the overload relay that I mentioned earlier that shuts off fans/etc when starting the car. I unplugged it and Whammo its fixed. Thus far I've got a good running motor rebuild, quiet head, great sounding new TT exhaust, new clutch and pp, new neuspeed springs, new fuel pumps, new radiator, new h20 pump, new oil pump, and new brakes all the way around. I've still gotta put the windshield in and the glass roof in but that's a bonus for later. You guys might see it this Thursday if some things happen this week.
Look at what I found on the back suspension.... this is why I'm calling it a basketcase. Someone thought that putting a "helper spring" in there where a stock spring had broken....
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y218/sciroccodriver/strut.jpg

[Shiftlink]

That looks like one of those Oxy/acetylene lowering kits!

Glad you found the Bozo wiring, it is a very nice feeling when you finally solve problems like that!

[VDUBNLUVN]

hell yea, you obviously have more patience than me, id end up having a full set of autometer gauges wired up.


hey,, you by chance have a set of b3 wagon springs? looks like you are in need yourself but thats what reminded me, i got a customer trying to raise his golf, and those work quite nice like.

[sciroccodriver]

fortunately I've got neuspeed springs to go on this so I'm not in need.... naturally I've thrown away 2 sets of stockers in the past. heheh.

[sciroccodriver]

Sooo, A buddy of mine needs a car because his van died. He committed to buy this last night so I'm prepping it for him. I haven't even driven it out of the driveway yet. I didn't even have it for sale but, naturally, I could use the money. I'm not making more than $50 on it, its leaving me with a lot of my good parts I've accumulated, but it was fun and I'll wish I had it later but.....

I've got it running perfect. Overall here's the things that were done....
-Rebuilt 2.0l bottom end and a port matched 75K mile 1.8L head(my old one from a buddy's wrecked car)
-Radiator
-Condensor
-Clutch/Pressure Plate
-Fuel Pumps
-Water pump
-Oil pump
-Front and rear cross drilled zimmermans with mintex
-Rear bearings
-Electrical gremlins gone
-Window Motor, Seatbelt (ignition switch)
-Neuspeed springs
-Techtonics Catback
-TONS of other stuff I can't remember right now

So if you see a green B3 wagon rolling on (the new guy's) 16" 5spoke hotwheels wheels with lip then you're looking at yet another B3 I've let go. :( :( :(