VS Wiring Diagram

I've recently purchased a '94 VS. After a relatively spirited 2 weeks of driving, I found myself unexpectedly replacing the 1835 with a brand new 1914, plus various other goodies I may post about later. However, after the new engine was installed, I was told by my mechanic (quite reputable in my area) that the ignition wire to the coil was shorting (unexpectedly dropping from 12 to 3.5 volts). He bypassed the wire, and all was well, except that I noticed that the tach and speedo were not working. A call to my mechanic after I picked up the car revealed that since he did not ever see the vehicle running, he didn't know if they worked. I verified that they did work, and he asked that I bring in the wiring diagram to the car in with the car on Monday. I don't have the diagram. Does anyone here? Can it be posted or e-mailed to me? Also, after I drove it, I noticed copious amounts of smoke coming from underneath the drivers seat and dash, and it's damn hot under the seat as well! Sounds like further wiring problems... Ideas?

Thanks!
Scott Bell
bell-law(at)bak.rr.com

I would be suprised that the speedo would fail to read on a VS as they typically are cable driven, it is often connected to the fronnt hub cover on the left brake but my VW knowledge is comming back real slow. It also might not light up due to a short but it will still work. Also the tach is typically connected to the transmission with a cable as well, I have not been around enough vintages to be sure that all cars came this way but a electronic pickup tach and speedo would be way overkill for the speedster. With all the work that they did to the car make sure that they at least hooked up to these's as they are often dissconected while doing a engine swap.

Also check your ingition wiring to your key, it sounds like you might have a short there, there are quite a few wires under the dash so the chances for a unwanted connection are significantly higher. That would explain the smoke comming from the dash, at least from the standpoint of buring insolation around your wires.

As for the coil check the voltage regulator connections, the brushes in the generator/alternator. There are vey few wires running throughout these cars and a short should be easy enough to spot. If you mechanic bypassed everything and ran the cable right to the coil you more then likely have a bad connection somewhere in the car. I have on several occations purchased new/reman. VW generator's and had problems with them, so if there is a new one on your engine give it the once over.

Thanks for the info. Since the post, I found the original manual from 94 (including a wiring diagram), and found that the mechanic wired the oil temp wire to the coil, the tach wire to the oil temp, and the oil pressure wire had broken off from the sender and was shorting out on the engine tin, thus melting the insulation. The speedo seems to be a bad cable. The speedo is mechanical, but the tach isn't. Always seems to be the simple stuff.