How to read wiring schematic

62Detroit · Samba Member Joined: August 07, 2015 Posts: 3

I am so close to getting my 1983 VW Rabbit Diesel on the road that I can almost feel the wind in what little hair I have.
Problem is I spent the money for the Bentley manual, but don't know how to splice the wires back( some previous idiots cut a lot I wires)
I want my temp gauge to work, and the oil pressure light to go off(needs new sensor), other than that I want to hook the correct wires to the Frankenstein on the back(drivers side) of engine and reassemble the pigtail going in he the transmission.
If anybody has pictures or can explain it big bird/barney style I be most appreciative.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

TDCTDI · Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2015 4:04 pm Post subject:

The Bentley wiring diagrams are actually current flow diagrams. Power comes in from the top & flows through the consumers to ground at the bottom (generally)( on the page you show has a ground track along the top of the page also, but still at the bottom of the power traces). The wires gauge (thickness) is the # above the color (v is violet, bk is black) (wire above fuel level sensor). the colors of the wires are listed on every page. Red wires AND BLACK wires in German cars carry current, brown wires are ground or earth.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.

GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!

An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.

Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

TDCTDI · Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2015 4:12 pm Post subject:

That mess of wires on the trans used to be the connector for the backup light switch & on your car, it originally had a goofy "up shift" light. You can find the power & backup light wire & just connect those two the switch ( I can't tell if you've got the newer/older trans with the 2 pole switch or if it has the U.S. Spec trans that the plug goes to.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.

GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!

An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.

Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

62Detroit · Samba Member Joined: August 07, 2015 Posts: 3

I had the back up lights connected, but not permanently.
What is the heavier black wire for?
Which blue wires go to the coolant sensor and the oil pressure switch?

TDCTDI · Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2015 4:08 am Post subject:

Check the wire coming out of the coolant temp sensor on the diagram, it's designated as bl/y, that would be blue/yellow. The first color is the dominant color, the second color is the thin stripe .
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.

GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!

An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.

Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

62Detroit · Samba Member Joined: August 07, 2015 Posts: 3

So put the brown wire and the blue/yellow wire together, and the black and violet wire together?

TDCTDI · Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2015 5:34 am Post subject:

You can try anything once.
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.

GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!

An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.

Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

TDCTDI · Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2015 5:39 am Post subject:


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

	Forum Index -> Water-cooled VW	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1