TheSamba.com :: View topic - Wiring works electrical harness kit/*UPDATE*

Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:35 pm

Just got a wiring works complete electrical harness kit for my 1970 bug, anyone have any suggestions or tips before i start to install it?

Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:44 pm

Label things, maybe replace one wire at a time if you can, take photos and notes as you pull things off, it's amazing what you'll forget what goes where after you step away from the project (in case you don't get it done in one fell swoop).

Technical forum has color diagrams of the wires...that really helps.

Clean off the terminals & connectors of things as you pull off the wires, get them nice and shiny, sand paper or emery cloth.

Now is the time to check and replace bulbs, be careful removing sockets from taillight housings as they're starting to get fragile.

Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:45 pm

1. Take plenty of pictures at all areas (fuse box, engine, etc) before you disconnect anything. Print the pictures and have them handy.
2. Read the directions that came with your harness. Then, read them again!
3. Don't just pull the harness...attach to a rope or cable so you can
pull the new one into place with that rope or cable (i.e. from cab to engine compartment, etc).
4. Label everything you disconnect that stays put and will be
accepting the new harness.
5. Take your time, be patient and work carefully.

It's not rocket science..but with the above, it's not a bad deal, really.
I'm sure others will throw in some items I forgot.

Good luck.

Thu Mar 18, 2010 2:58 pm

1. Take plenty of pictures at all areas (fuse box, engine, etc) before you disconnect anything. Print the pictures and have them handy.
2. Read the directions that came with your harness. Then, read them again!
3. Don't just pull the harness...attach to a rope or cable so you can
pull the new one into place with that rope or cable (i.e. from cab to engine compartment, etc).
4. Label everything you disconnect that stays put and will be
accepting the new harness.
5. Take your time, be patient and work carefully.

It's not rocket science..but with the above, it's not a bad deal, really.
I'm sure others will throw in some items I forgot.

Good luck.

Thu Mar 18, 2010 4:55 pm

Cool. good luck. I'm about 3-4 weeks away from tackling the same, with the exception I'm switching it up a bit and planing to put fuse panel under drivers side back seat. Take some basic pics if you don't mind of your progress and what not.. :D

Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:35 pm

thanks for the advice. when i got the car 1/2 of it was missing and the other 1/2 was butchered beyond repair, so im starting from scratch. Ive helped my dad rewire a few old 50's trucks and a jeep cj5 so im not to worried. I have the engine out so that should help. Going to have to modify it some as the front turn signals are off a 61 (1 bulb) and the tail lights are a 67 (2 bulbs no reverse lights). I'm photo documenting everything i do with a camera, hoping to have this done within a week or so, ill try to post some pics once i get started (hopefully tonight after work).

If anyone wants photos before i get around to posting them just pm me.

Thu Mar 18, 2010 6:40 pm

You already just brought up a good point for my rewire. My car is kinda sorta a 73 Super but has 62-67 Taillights and Pre 67 headlights...more to think about..

Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:44 am

I rewired my 72 std last year with a Wire Works kit and harness. It went very smooth and quickly. I think the main harness is a bit to long but with some patience you can do a clean install. The instructions that came with it were great.
Good luck!

-Scotty

Fri Mar 26, 2010 2:06 am

UPDATE

got the main harness in tonight. instructions are good, getting the rear part of the harness through the fire wall to the engine bay is tricky. I unraveled a metal coat hanger then used it to pull the new harness through from under the rear seat.

I should get more done on it later today, also get some photos up (have em just to tired to upload till later today).

Fri Mar 26, 2010 3:44 am

When you say "instructions are good", do you mean each wire is labled for where it connects? Was the wiring kit specific for your VW,or just generic wiring of a car?

Fri Mar 26, 2010 8:25 am

Put a couple of fuses in it to prevent future problems:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=402487

Good Luck!

Fri Mar 26, 2010 9:41 am

mikeeee wrote: When you say "instructions are good", do you mean each wire is labled for where it connects? Was the wiring kit specific for your VW,or just generic wiring of a car?
I have a Wiring Works harness (also for a 1970) that I have not used yet. The kit is a few years old, but I doubt it is any different. The wires (save one) are not labeled, they are properly color coded. One of the looms does actually have labels, the loom for the master cylinder has wires 81,81a and 82 marked on the ends. I posted a scan of the instructions in another thread, about half was down the first page.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=400706&highlight=wiring+works
The instructions are also in my gallery.

Fri Mar 26, 2010 11:30 am

The big thing i hate when some people rewire a car is, they don't take the time to properly route the wires. This means using gromets in all holes, using zip ties, wire looms, etc. If you use a universal harness run all circuits completely before the ends are teminated. This allows you to make sure all the wires will fit in the tight spots and lets you arrange them so it doesn't look like a bowl of spaghetti in there.

And solder and shrink wrap connections instead of crimping. I know, it's pain in the ass, but the quality of the connection and the way it looks can't be beat.

Fri Mar 26, 2010 12:53 pm

what i found is helpful is labeling each piece before starting to run them (i used file folder labels). also took pictures of what was left before i started the rewiring job. don't plan on having it all connected until each wiring harness is in place.

This kit was specific for the 1970 model. i figured it was worth the extra $$ to get one specific as opposed to a universal. Another thing that helps it to have a color wiring diagram as well, which i got from this site.

Going to start back on it in about 30 minutes, hopefully get it finished up then ill post a full update w/photos.

Tue Apr 27, 2010 1:49 pm

Ok so i apologize to those who have been waiting for a reply, got busy with life then a vacation. Wiring is almost complete. Its been challenging but so far so good. My dad has helped tremendously since he has experience with this kind of thing.

The hardest part has been figuring out some of the circuits, as well as the problem with having a 74 steering column, and a mix match of turn signal lights from different years.

We are about 70-80% done, hoping to have it completed in a week or so. So far we have the ignition circuit and headlights working, with turn signals and various smaller ones remaining.

The instructions are good that come with the kit, but nothing was pre-labeled so we had to figure that out on our own. It helped to have access to as much information as you can. I found it was helpful to have a diagram for each year from 68-74 due to our mismatch of parts, as well as having an alternator. Also helps to print out the color diagrams in the tech section here.

I'll try to get photos posted soon

Tue Apr 27, 2010 11:38 pm

DenverDude2002 wrote: Just got a wiring works complete electrical harness kit for my 1970 bug, anyone have any suggestions or tips before i start to install it?

read and understand the installation instructions before you start! make sure you have all of the right switches the kit calls for!

double and triple check your work as you go and when done with a step put a check mark by it so you know you have it done!

all of the terminals on the switches are numbered pay close attention to the numbers!

i did my white bug a couple of years ago with the wiring works kit for 68-69 bugs the install went well everything works as it should....

best of luck!