Date:         Wed, 25 Mar 1998 19:26:33 EST
Reply-To:     Jwilli941 <Jwilli941@AOL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Jwilli941 <Jwilli941@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Eurovan gauges
Comments: To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

In a message dated 98-03-25 18:44:34 EST, you write:

<< At 09:53 3/25/98 EST, you wrote:
 >My brother bought a 93 Eurovan a year or so ago, he loves it but he came to
me
 >in a fit of anger over the guages. Thinking that since I am such a VW
advocate
 >that I could help to releive the problem and calm him down. apparently the
 >guages are falsely reading or not at all, (re: gas, temp, etc.). This is
also
 >happening on his wife's 91 cabrio, it is the same problem with both. Was
there
 >a f#$@-up in these at the factory??? Is there an easy remedy? He has had it
in
 >to the local VW dealer 4 times and they are still scratching their heads...
 >Duhhh>>> >>


The Euros had a problem with the 5 volt reference signal source solder joint
cracking over time.  The way the gauges work is by comparing that reference
voltage to what they are receiving from the sending units and then
they 'know' where to point the needle.  This joint suffers from a 'cold'
solder joint that will crack and eventually break.  The dealer *should* know
about this as it was fairly common when I was a VW dealer mechanic.  They
will want to replace the entire circuit board to the tune of several hundred
dollars but if you are careful you can clean the area up and resolder it.
The circuit board is actually a plastic sheet that wraps around the back of
the
instrument cluster housing but by taking your time you shouldn't have any
problem.  Remember that this is an educated guess on my part and there
maybe something else causing your gauge problem.

Todd Hill
VolksWerks Transaxles
Olympia, WA