rse0053

On recently acquired 200 turbo, the turn signal indicators and high beam indicator glow (not full on) when the lights are turned on. The high beam indicator gets brighter with high beams off when key is turned on, and goes out with high beams turned on. Things that may be related(I have the manual on order so I don't have wiring diagrams yet) - the radio has been replaced with a JVC so many of the original wires are disconnected and/or cut, the glove box light seems to have gone missing, the tag light wiring in the trunk has been repaired at some point (I had to reconnect some bad patches), pushing the window lockout blows the fuse for the dash computer. Basically a lot of electrical gremlins. Any advice?
thanks - Steve

cuatrokoop

Probably the switch is allowing current to pass through to the indicators.

The other stuff, look for shorts in lines at key places (think: where does the loom flex repeatedly?)...

Will Ng

That dash lighting problem is a common one.
It's a ground fault.
The VDO cluster uses several jumper-pass-through connections, similar to those jumpers on PC motherboards.

Several LONG pins traverse through layers of circuit board to get a signal connection. The pins insert into 'jumpers' soldered in place. Vibration eventually cause the solder joints to break. Quick fix is resolder them. But I've found that the problem will return!!

You best bet is to de-solder the pins and replace them with small gauge wires. Pass these to the connection point and solder them to where to are supposed to go. Leave enough slack in the wires for cutting, in case you need to disassemble the cluster at a later stage.

I did this for my bouncing speedometer issue, and it never bounced again afterwards.

There are two pins for GND near the tach, fix those, and your lights should operate normally.

More details at SJM's great website.

rse0053

thanks for the feedback. I am new to Audi's so appreciate the experience on this list. This 200 is a beautiful thing even with the quirks. I'll keep you posted with any fun results.
S

rse0053

Problem was a lost connection at the base of the little green connector the pins stick into - had lost ground to two dash lights and high beam and turn signal indicators. Thanks!! now can get the airbag light to go out....
S