Well, it wasn't my B4, but Snoopy Smiles who came up from Tucson to have me fix some door handles and the window. I wound up doing a whole lot more than that.
We met up at a Coffee & Cars in Prescott. Bowie Kid's B4V is on the right, then Snoopy Smiles B4, then my B4V.
Starting to do the work in my garage.
The window was the first thing, which had a broken keeper on the end. I removed it and installed one she had, then adjusted the window regulator so it wouldn't bind at the top. It would get near to coming off part way up and I wasn't able to figure it out right away so I moved on to other more pressing issues. I'll revisit it later and think I have a solution: the regulator is aftermarket, I'll swap in an OEM one and check the fit.
Her interior lights didn't work with the door since her switch was broken. I didn't have a driver's spare switch so I disassembled a passengers spare and rebuilt the driver's, which has 2 contacts instead of 1.
The driver's seat wouldn't adjust so I had a look, the handle was busted so I grabbed one off my spare seat and swapped it.
And it still didn't work. I removed the seat and found the cable frozen that allows the seat to go up and down. I also work on bicycles so I used my cable lubricator and got it freed up and working again.
All the door handles needed work and the front ones didn't open. I rehabbed or replaced some from my stash but the passengers door handle was trashed and she had no key anyway. I swapped on a rear door handle for now since all my fronts are missing keys and the microswitch gets broken when you try and force the lockset out. I ordered a Mr. Lishi lockpick set for the B4 (I have one for the A4+ cars) and will not only be able to get into the locks, but also get the tumbler sequence to have keys cut. I can rekey the tumblers to match and will replace it later so it'll work with her key.
I also replaced all the missing or rotten door handle gaskets. Most were missing the white spacer as well, which properly locates the handle inside the door.
Some 'mechanic' told her the headlight switch didn't work so naturally they busted the clamshell off the column (the headlight switch isn't under it). I replaced the clamshell with parts from mine and checked out the headlight switch, which worked fine. I also checked out the other switches she bought and they worked fine also. One is from a '95 with the separate parking lights and fog feature, so I'll try and repair the outer skin and swap it later, possibly with some aftermarket fog lights. I also took the jumper off my B4 and put it on hers so the low beams will stay on with the high beams. The fusebox was out of the cradle and hanging down so I put it back up but will have to perform some wire manipulation to get it orientated correctly. At least it's not hanging anymore.
The 3rd break light assembly was a mess with some of the bulbs burned out. I replaced them all but it immediately popped the fuse. I then put new bulbs in individually until the fuse blew again, then went on to the next. Everything looks fine but there is obviously a short behind the assembly, which is plastic welded together. She needs a new one if anyone has one kicking around. I did buy a plastic welder and may try to repair this if we can't find another.
I retrieved my parts stash from Maine and was able to find a side marker light, which was missing from hers. I had to glue the lens back on but it worked and now adorns her car.
I replaced some missing screws here and there (like on the headlight), polished the passenger side, and checked out the engine bay. I replaced an air cleaner box latch that was missing, changed the air filter element, and tightened a batter clamp that was loose. I also moved the battery over and noticed it didn't have the correct hold down clamp. I saw the collet on the IP and removed it, sure enough, it was chafing through.
Next time I'll go over a little more in the engine bay, plastic weld the washer fluid reservoir since some knucklehead broke it so it leaks if too full, remove the HVAC controller and sort out why it doesn't have all the settings, install an airbox snorkel with anti-mouse proof screen, swap on a non-bent spring for the drivers seat, and a proper battery hold down clamp. I also need to disassemble the cluster since the time adjustment doesn't work. I picked a bunch up of stuff from the local junkyard from other VW's that she needed and I didn't have in my parts stash. It felt good to be working on a B4 again (even though mine needs a bunch of work) and especially one not completely rust riddled.