Hello from VT

[VTWhaler]

Hi everyone,

I picked this up last month. '92

Its got 180k on the odometer and is mechanically in pretty good shape. Electrical, interior, and top are a complete disaster.

The top is getting replaced with black canvas next week because white vinyl won't last very long up here; Interior is getting replaced with leather over the winter.

I need to address the electrical stuff asap. It looks like a best buy hack job on the radio combined with the mouse nests really did a number on the car. No interior lights, exteriors flicker, instrument cluster works intermittently, windows go up and down on their own. I think I am going to start by cleaning up the grounds. I am lucky that I have vintage VW shop around the corner from where I live. They already had it for a couple of weeks and suggested I find a new instrument cluster and swap it. Not so sure about that. Any suggestions?

Pics of course:

[Briano1234]

Welcome to the friendliest forum like your ride.

Naw on the cluster.... Verify that your 12V in and Grounds are good pin 2 (black pin14 is battery in) (brown pin 2 is ground) Splice a new ground in to the brown wire and attach it to the back of the cluster connector wire side, to the frame behind the cluster.

Plump out the Mylar connector usually fixes clusters.

here are the links.

Improving your Cluster connections and grounds.
https://volkswagenownersclub.com/vw/sho ... and-ground.

Where are my grounds on my Digi.
https://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread. ... f-your-car

Windows going up and down could be the grounds, could also be the switches, and or a controller that has gotten wet.
Everything you ever wanted to know about the power windows.
https://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?2126843

Clean your rain drains, make sure there is a water divertor, and that you need to get a Debris guard installed.
https://volkswagenownersclub.com/vw/sho ... bris-Guard

Every how to that I know of is in this forum somwhere, but the main list is at the vortex on my signature line.
https://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread. ... -FAQ/page3 post 75.

[VTWhaler]

Thanks a lot, Briano! Lots of reading to do. Post #75 is going to be my friend.

[Briano1234]

The best information site is, www.cabby-info.com

Yes, your top needs to have the middle folded in so there are fold when closed, this is a sign that the straps weren't attached or they have
broken allowing your top to parachute out the rear... Till your new top is installed you just have to push the middle in while you are folding it.

As yours is a 90'ish, you may want to read the I HATE PLASTIC PARTS thread, and learn of the issues with the plastic flanges.
It was one of the better upgrades that I have ever done.

As I stated, most of the links were originally posted here, then copied to the other forums. I just never bothered to assemble them into one convenient spot, as when I did that years ago, that site when defunct, and I "Almost" lost a ton of how to's and the Photos associated with them.