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Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:50 pm

I have this wire hanging down from above my transmission that I had not noticed before. There are two switches on the transmission that have spade type connectors. The switch on the side has two wires attached and the switch on the nose of the transmission has two connectors (spade) but only one wire? I know one switch is for the reverse lights and perhaps the other switch is for vacuum advance cut-off (which I no longer have)? In any event the hanging down wire has a different type connector (as you can see). There also appears to be a spot on the transmission where this wire may have been attached like a ground? Bus is running fine. Any help is appreciated.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:41 pm

not sure if I follow your description correctly, but i think the vacuum advance cutoff might have used that wire as a ground.

looks brown?

Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:29 pm

Yeah, it's brown and I think that's what it is too. It's funny that all the time I've spent under my bus I never noticed it attached at that spot on the transmission.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:31 pm

The hangy down wire goes to the switch on the nose cone? VW uses brown for all ground wires, is this one brown. If it is not brown maybe it went to the starter solenoid??? Whatever it is it probably is no longer needed and it would be best to remove it or at least tape it off.

Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:35 pm

I believe it was attached to that white spot on the tranny in the second pic. There is a hole there but it does not appear to be threaded (or at least my eyesight can't tell).

Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:53 pm

That looks like a real large one. More like the size of a battery cable. Not a little back-up or neutral switch.
So the big and important question is what is the other end connected to?

Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:10 pm

The pic is deceiving I guess and the wire is in a sheath. It is a small wire, no where near the size of a battery cable. Just took a look and it goes to the switch on the nosecone and it is the only wire that does. The other connection on this switch has no wire. I think that when my motor was replaced with a '74 (a year without vacuum advance cut-off) this switch was no longer used. So, I think my question has been answered.