Does your automatic Cabriolet have an upshift light?

[gull]

Did any European cars get the upshift indicator? I've always assumed it was a way to improve the US EPA fuel economy rating, by telling the test driver when to upshift.

The clusters in your photos look just like the one in my '89, which was made after the shift indicator was phased out.

[gull]

Whelp, it passed emissions. Next step: new heater core, so I can drive it without constantly wiping down the windshield.

I think I may also have to do something about the bad aux air regulator. The one on my manual-shift '89 is bad too, and I never really missed it, but I can see that it's more important on a slushbox where you can't just feather the clutch to keep the car running. I have to warm it up for a minute or two or it stalls backing out.

Also had my first no-start due to the starter being heat-soaked. I'll need to install a hot start relay. Previous owner put in a new starter, which I suspect it didn't actually need.

[gull]

Put in a new heater core. Dear lord, I never want to do that job again.

Also found the previous owner (or someone) had connected the negative battery cable to the trans, and neglected to install a trans-to-chassis ground strap. This probably explains why the speedometer reads so high. Bet it became part of the current path and is now internally messed up.

[kamzcab86]

Did any European cars get the upshift indicator? I've always assumed it was a way to improve the US EPA fuel economy rating, by telling the test driver when to upshift.

I've no idea. I peruse Euro eBay sites now and then and have yet to notice upshift clusters. Considering the MFA clusters give you MPG (or km/l), I can understand why.

Good job on the heater core; that's one PITA job I hope I never have to do.

[gull]

I used the "chainsaw method," cutting a slot in the side of the heater box. This saves some disassembly but it's still a pain. Worst part was taking the knee bolster out; the placement of the hardware for that is positively diabolical. Also, the old heater core was the original and had lots of gummy, sticky foam on it, which made sliding it out of the heater box a struggle.

The other shortcut I took was pinching off the hoses under the hood, so I wouldn't have to drain the cooling system. I probably should have anyway, to change the coolant, but I really didn't feel like adding a flush/fill to what was already looking like a long job.

[gull]

Got another question for you experienced slushbox drivers. Is it normal to have some transmission whine in 1st? It doesn't happen in any other gear. It's not super-loud...reminds me a bit of the 2nd gear whine characteristic of some Ford automatics.

[Briano1234]

Got another question for you experienced slushbox drivers. Is it normal to have some transmission whine in 1st? It doesn't happen in any other gear. It's not super-loud...reminds me a bit of the 2nd gear whine characteristic of some Ford automatics.

Does GIECO save you 15 percent on car insurance?

I think if I remember the answer, is Yes.

[gull]

Gotcha. I have a history of bad luck with automatics (although this is my first VW automatic), so I wanted to make sure that wasn't a sign of an imminent transplosion.

[gull]

You could create a flat black blank, place it over the upshift indicator, and then place your favorite term, saying or whatever over the new plate.

I had my wife draw up something to stick in there. She had fun with it:

[CalAltaDubber]

You could create a flat black blank, place it over the upshift indicator, and then place your favorite term, saying or whatever over the new plate.

I had my wife draw up something to stick in there. She had fun with it:

That's totally cool.

Would you be willing to share the template for that? I would love to have that in my '88

[Briano1234]

Gotcha. I have a history of bad luck with automatics (although this is my first VW automatic), so I wanted to make sure that wasn't a sign of an imminent transplosion.

I have read stories on the interweb, where the 010 transmissions are known to go over 400k in Vanagons with no issues other than seals and regular fluid exchanges. Which comforts me a tad.

[gull]

BTW, note the 85 mph speedometer...the only replacement speedo I could find in the junkyard that had the right revs/mile ratio was in an old A1 Jetta.

[gull]

Would you be willing to share the template for that? I would love to have that in my '88

Sure. I need to get a copy of the high-res artwork, then I'll post it for you.

[CalAltaDubber]

Would you be willing to share the template for that? I would love to have that in my '88

Sure. I need to get a copy of the high-res artwork, then I'll post it for you.

Thanx

[gull]

http://www.gull.us/auto/vwrabbit.tif

You'll probably want to invert this (so it's white-on-black) and print it at about 600 dpi. There's enough there to cover the whole metal upshift light plate, part of which is blocked by the plastic cluster frame, so there's room to line it up the way you want it without edges showing. I printed it on thick photo paper and then used contact cement to glue it to the plate.