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Tue May 27, 2003 12:00 pm

I installed a stereo in my 77 westy, but couldnt find the accessory wire (the one that runs through the ignition switch). There wasnt even one hooked up to the old stereo. So, which fuse should I take power from, I checked all my fuses and found 3 that have power running to them when the key is turned. Two are white, one is red (the fuses). So my Q I guess, is which of the three should I run from??

Tue May 27, 2003 1:22 pm

My bus is a 78 (same wiring) and it came with no radio but it did have a black wire from the fusebox with half of a white fuse holder. I took the AM radio from my beetle and it came wired with the other half of the fuse holder so I just put it together and it worked.

The black wire runs to fuse #9 which is 16A for accessories.

BTW, the radio cutout for the 78 bus is the same as the 71 SB if you are looking for something stock to put in your dash...

Tue May 27, 2003 7:55 pm

Also, the radios aren't wired through the ignition switch, on any volkswagen that I've come across. You can play the radio with the key off, so you have to be careful if you turn it down, or you might forget. The Bentley manual says #9 is for the buzzer, and #7 is an accessory fuse. Doesn't say which one should be for the radio though. Jeremy

Tue May 27, 2003 8:21 pm

I did a continuity test and the radio wire comes from #9. According to the wiring diagram the fresh air fans (if you have them) wire to #7.

Note that the Bentley is wrong wrt the 16A fuse in position 11 as an example. It's never been 16A and they will correct it with the next printing.