I have had it! 1979 Diesel Rabbit for sale cheap. It is a good deal for someone who is fixing one up or needs/ wants good spare parts. Six months ago it was my only transportation and I drove it with confidence down here to West Los Angeles from my home 500 miles north of here, regularly. This car has been well maintained for its whole life.
I had some guy put a new front axel and cv boots on it¦ I was bragging about the car when I mentioned that the only other thing wrong with it was the emergency flasher (I did not care- it ran so good I was not worried that I would need it) so, imagine my horror when I came out and found the guy taking ALL of the wiring out of the car, the relays, you name it, and cutting off all of the wires/connectors as he went (so he could replace them with all new connectors and surprise me). I could not help noticing he had not marked a one of them. Even I, who never worked on a car in my life (before this), know better than that! Too bad I had already paid him for the axel part.
When I freaked out, he boasted that he could remember where it all went but instead he gave up four days later and changed his number. I have not seen him since. Be careful what you brag / boast about.
I have worked on it very sporadically for six months and I can take it completely apart and put it all back together now in under an hour, I have done it so many times.
It cranks but the glow plug lite does not come on and I have no idea how to wire this one switch ( or what it does). It started once anyway but I just do not want to deal with it anymore. I have to get it out of my friends driveway and breakdown and buy yet another car so I can get home. I bought an 94 escort a few weeks ago and now I don't trust it to make the drive up.
Here is what I have:
The body/bumpers is/are in good shape: 2 small repairable dents, no rust but no real shine in the paint anymore either. will e-mail pic's on request. It is a whole, whole lot better than most I see.
New: front axel and boots. (This is what I paid)$100.00 (250.00 with labor), glow plug relay, $52.00, new flasher/ turn relay, $6. Volt stabilizer, $12.00, all dash lite bulbs, seat belts, $40.00 Just installed air filter (and have another new one still in the box), gas filter, oil, oil filter, all fluids.
Replaced the front seat(s) upolstry and beefed up the padding. so they are really comfortable now and look good. All parts any many extras: side mirror, extra window handles., switches, etc). Dash front and ledge, carpet, heater, are in good shape (top of dash has a cover, I don't think any of them survived, and air needs recharge, I think) Repair Manual(s) and lots of wiring diagrams &/info. More.
Registration was up in October??? I put a non-op on it, So if you want to put it on the road again, you can easily reg it. (no smog required)
One of you guys with the 81 diesel wabbits interested, anyone ????? I gotchills.

check your other post concerning the identification of the sensors, i left you some good information. if the glow system is the only problem that you have you can wire a high amperage toggle swich directly from the battery positive terminal to the glow plug bus (the copper strip that connects the glo plugs togather), don't forget to put the swich in the passenger compartment (maybe you will want to get one with a safety cover, tell your friends it is for the nitrous or something otherwise rediculous). before you start the engine you will want to turn the swich on for about five or ten seconds and turn it off just as you begin to crank the engine. i've seen this used in a few chevy diesels whoes owner could not justify the expense of the glo relay ($75 each, he claimed). while this fix is probably not what you were looking for it will keep you from having to scrap your rabbit. if you wnt any more information e-mail me and i will be glad to help. where is this mystery swich that gives you so much grief?