90% Electrical Failure--Diesel Rabbit

Hello Everyone,

I have an 84 diesel rabbit and is experiencing 90% electrical failure. For a long time it has had some weird shorts where the glow light would come on with the brake lights or turn signals, etc. Yesterday, the glow light would flash inversely with the turn signal dash lights. Before it completely conked out, I would lose total power and then it would come back. This seemed to come and go with bumps in the road. Now, I only have power to the starter, trunk light, the oil dash light, park brake light, and battery light. A couple of the relays buzz like there is a mad hornet inside.

There is power on both sides of the fuseable links. I haven’t checked fuses, and don’t know how to check relays. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance for any replies.

Matt Monahan
Chattanooga, TN
[email protected]

bad grounds.. faulty sensors... aw hell rewire the whole car haha.

i have two i also i replaced the complete harness. look for grounds. from battery to body. remember ground wire in vw is brown there will be one at your right strut 3 to the left of your relays. fuseable link wires will also corode not just the fuse i seen it happen on my truck. a cheap way to see if you are getting juice to your glowplugs. open door watch your inside lite. when you turn on your switch it should dim from the amprege draw. check where your harness plugs into your ignition switch. it has no lock on wire it can vibrate off.

Having electrical problems too.

Where can I buy a replacement wiring harness for a 1982 VW Rabbit Diesel Pickup?

Having electrical problems too.

Where can I buy a replacement wiring harness for a 1982 VW Rabbit Diesel Pickup?
i can get you a used one for about 80.00 i live about 30 minuits from atl just email me [email protected]

Unfortunately, for our older rabbits, VW no longer carries wire harnesses in the warehouses. I have asked the dealer to look around and they found it doesn't list in the system anymore.

If you find a junk yard and pull one out or talk to someone that has one laying around still... go for it...

i have looked around. if you have any specific problems let me know... i am sure i can come up with some GOOD rigging that will work for you. Sometimes we just have to custom our rides. Age falls on us all.

I recently bought the 1982 Rabit diesel pickup and replaced the raditaor, cleaned fuel injectors and replaced 2 bad glow plugs. Drove it back from Austin, Texas to Newnan, Georgia, It won't crank now, and there is already a lot of walmart wiring under the hood. The previous owner had a start pushbutton mickey moused into the dash because the start position on the key quit working.
Was thinking just replacing the entire wiring system might be the simplest solution.

well the start position on the key probably doesn't work because the ignition tumbler died, or the wiring to it is bad? check the wiring in the column is good, then try changing the ignition switch. don't "mickey mouse it like they did, try and do it right. you may not necessarily need a whole new wiring system, but wiring is fun. if you are doing that, you might as well make a custom race styled dash; start from scratch with smoe simpler wiring and buttons, switches. make it hott...
other than that... sounds like the person you bought it from was just lazy.
Man what i would give for a nice rabbit pickup in good shape to work on and fix up. i have wanted one of those forever...

I recently bought the 1982 Rabit diesel pickup and replaced the raditaor, cleaned fuel injectors and replaced 2 bad glow plugs. Drove it back from Austin, Texas to Newnan, Georgia, It won't crank now, and there is already a lot of walmart wiring under the hood. The previous owner had a start pushbutton mickey moused into the dash because the start position on the key quit working.
Was thinking just replacing the entire wiring system might be the simplest solution.


d i think you need to sell it to me i will come and get it how much do you want let me know [email protected]

dont forget some of the rabbits wont start unless you have your seat belt buckled

Got it to crank after I cleaned the corroded ground on the mickey mouse starter wiring. Now looking for a head bolt socket and exhaust clamp removal tool because it has a blown head gasket. Is there anywhere around Atlanta, Georgia that sells VW specialty tools?

try thepartsbin.com

they have alot of parts at cost and some tools. check it.
don't pay full price for parts again.

i remove the stupid exhaust clamps with a large punch. you can pry them off by putting it in the holes and just work with it.

you can also make some metal wedges to shove in there... make each one bigger than the other... that also works.just keep them in the clamp til you put the new pipe on and then pull them out to reclamp.

Decided to go ahead and buy the official tool to remove/install the exhaust claps. Should arrive this week. $ 49 on ebay.

i still think you should just sell me the auto and i will come and pick it up and your troubles will be gone