Mk1 Instruments - Speedo/Tacho etc

[danpez]

Anyone got some decent experience with the instrument set up that can confirm if I have the correct one?

My car is a 1983 Mk1 Golf GTI Cabriolet, and this is what it looks like:



I've been told by the engineers who looked at the car before I shipped it out, that it may not be the original.

The problem I have at the moment is that it reads about 30% too fast. Also, none of the dash back lighting works. So at night I can't even see the dash, let alone attempt to calculate the correct speed! The lights work fine, indicators, wipers, small LEDs, fuel gauge appears to work fine, as does the water(?) temp gauge. The buttons/spindles don't, so I can't change the time, reset the trip counter etc.

I also have the 3 gauge binnacle between the front seats which has oil(?) temp, oil pressure and battery voltage. The pressure appears to work, but not sure the others are. I'm guessing they might not be set up, but I haven't looked yet.

The main query before I start getting everything set up right, is if I have the right instrument binnacle, or if I need to order the proper parts. I like the white, as I've mentioned I will probably return the car to it's original white as well. I was considering changing the speedo to KPH fully though if I have to replace anything.

Thoughts, experience, advice very welcome!

Cheers

[danpez]

It must be a product for avoidance.....

[Peter Jones]

That could be correct, The white faces are an adaption.

If the speedo is that far out you might have the wrong speedo drive gear on the gearbox end of the cable.

See 020 GEAR RATIOS

Otherwise the speedo could just be broken. It happens.

[mikinoz]

Not to mention that you might also have the incorrect diameter tyres.

[danpez]

Cool. I'll take a look.

The tyres are 175/60R13 on the original GTI alloys?

[Campaign]

looks the same as what I have on the GTI - except mine has a blue face fitted to convert to kmh

Correct size of tyre would be 175/70R13.

[tassie_euro_mk1]

Early speedos are a coil spring unit so chances are that when they replaced the gauge faces and removed the needles the coil has unsprung (so to speak). Throwing the speedo gauge out of calibration. There are auto electricians and the like who can recalibrate speedos for you