Hey everyone!

I've a bit of an issue with a 6n 1.4 16v, the speedo isn't functioning at all. The odometer keeps on ticking up though. I'm thinking that it's an issue with the clocks themselves, but was wondering if anyone had seen anything similar, if it's a common issue. The fuel gauge is also vague at best, with fuel level varying massively dependant on the type of corner I'm negotiating!

Any ideas would be greatly apreciated before i start removing the dash, if it can be avoided!

Chris.

i had a same type of problem turned out there was a bolt missing from a wire near my engine which messed it up!

LOL! a earthing bolt or similar was it? Must get a few sneaky hours to investigate properly....:)

yeah it was a earthing bolt/nut near the top of the engine between the engine and airbox, will take a look when i get a chance and let you know. i remember i changed my dials twice and my fuel pump and it turned out to be the stupid bolt!

i had similar issues and it turned out to be the clocks themselves that were at fault

Thanks guys, i'll get chance tomorrow night all being well :) Had read elsewhere that it was likely an earthing issue too. Worth a shot before i remove the clocks, which is the next step methinks!

Chris.

'bout ye's

Had a good look at the po-low today, and had a go at the irratic idle problem that a lot of them seem to suffer from. Looked into the dash issue as well, i assume the earth lead that people talk about is the strap that comes from the bulkhead to a mount on the head? I had this off and cleaned it up (what harm would it do?) but noticed when i had the scuttle panel off that it doesn't connect to anything near the dash.... methinks I'm looking at the wrong thing, unless there is witchcraft involved......

so where is the earth for the dash cluster then? Mucho LOLz.... old cars FTW

The earth for both of the Speedo and the fuel guage is near the thermostat housing. Its two brown wires with a connector on the end which is bolted down.

Ussy

Sorry to revive a thread from the past but I have a similar problem on my 1.4 16v

The revs work fine just I dont know what speed I'm doing. Fuel gauage is erratic and best and the odometer isnt working either just stays on the current miles.

I've changed the clocks and that didnt fix the problem. I have also traced the earth from the sensor on the gearbox to where it attaches the to top of the engine as has been mentioned above but only has 1 earth line running to it! Cleaned that up the best I could but still no luck.

Any body able to point me in the right direction? Photos would be greatly appreciated as I'm still learning my way around the Polo engine bay

The earth point attaches to one of the bolts near the thermostat housing, it has 2 wires going into it. It's a 10mm bolt from what I can remember.

Sorry but I can't help with any photos as I no longer have a polo.

Edited 6 April, 201313 yr by hustler2257

The earth point attaches to one of the bolts near the thermostat housing, it has 2 wires going into it. It's a 10mm bolt from what I can remember.

Sorry but I can't help with any photos as I no longer have a polo.

Is it above the housing as I think the one I was cleaning was that one but it only had 1 wire attached to it.

It attaches to the engine hoist with a strap going to the top of the fire wall?

Thanks for the quick reply

From what I remember, it wasn't a strap but it was actual wires, not very thick gauge wire though. Try taking a Look around the locating bolts for the thermostat housing, I managed to disconnect the earth and have issues after I had changed my thermostat housing.

Ok I will have a look around that area again

Ok I will have a look around that area again

It will be two brown wires going into a flat blade sort off connector that has a 10mm bolt going through it.

Cheers dude

Had another look and still no joy.

I traced the earth wire from this sensor on the gearbox

And it went to this location. Top of the engine in between the air box and cylinder head. attached to the engine hoist. But only 1 wire!

You can see it on the left hand side. with Throttle body on the right and thermostat housing below that

I gave the connections a good clean with Emory cloth but still no joy :(

Am I looking at the right place?

Bump any one?

Since cleaning the connection up the fuel gauge isnt as erratic as before but still not right.

The speedo does flicker ever so slightly but doesn't move more than a couple of mm but still no movement on the odometer.

also the temp gauge hardly moves.

But I cant find anything in the bay with 2 earth wires going to it only what I have pictured

If you have a multimeter, check there is 12v on pin 1 (BLACK/GREY wire) and ground pin 3 on the speedo sensor connector, if thats OK, jack the front of the car up, run the engine and put it in gear, then check for a voltage on pin 2 (BLUE/WHITE wire) and ground pin 3, it should pulse 12v as the wheels spin, the faster it spins the faster the pulses, if it does'nt pulse the sensor is goosed!!