Watson's street works wiring kit-read me before you start

[fclmscott]

Well I just finished the install of a Watsons street works kit in my 68 bug and while it is still fresh on my mind share a few thoughts, trips, and info with those that are thinking of doing this upgrade. So here goes,

1st, this is a kit put together and built by American Autowire using there Comp 16 fuse panel for Watsons streetworks and is supposed to be a customized kit for the VW bug. I know this because I had a technical question regarding the turn signal configuration and called both watsons and American autowire. American autowire was able to answer my questions and get me going again. The schematics on AAW website are the same ones that come with the kit.

2nd, this kit is put together with an American front engine car in mind. The custom part of the kit is the very few references to switch terminals as they relate to the VW but otherwise it’s a generic kit for an American car. For example the bag that comes with the wires for the dash and instruments have connectors with wires for all the normal things but the wires are only long enough for a front engine car so you have to use the extra left over wires to run to the rear. Ended up cutting several of these and using the wire elsewhere.

3rd, the instruction are very vague about how to hook up the turn signals and hazard flashers. This took some thinking! Your old flasher relay gets chunked! Trust in the fuse box. The hazards and turns use the same flasher and are wired together internally in the fuse box (which you can't see and can't determine with an OHm meter).

4th, very good quality wire, fuse box and connectors.

5th, don’t overthink this like I did. I consider myself to be very good at electrical and wiring and sometimes think too deeply. Think American when you start wiring and follow the schematics except for the ones I have attached below for the hazard turn system and headlights.

6th, Those who have done this and said they did it in a day must have done something differently than I did. This took me a serious week to get in and look factory. I heatshrinked everything and tried to run it like factory.

7th, buy a role of 3/8, ½, and ¾ heat shrink before you start and a bag of tie wraps

8th, run all the long wires to the back of the car 1st including your extras

9 – use my schematics and save yourself some headaches, don’t forget to buy a couple of extra universal relays, one for the fuel pump and one to reverse the polarity for the turn signal indicator lamp (not mentioned anywhere on any forum!)

Theres a lot more to it but I’m not one for typing but if you have a question give me a shout and I’ll try and help out. Here are a few pictures of my install and the two schematics.

Headlight circuit schematic

Turn signal circuit schematic

Some pics of my install

[AggieDave]

I have it in my '73 Super as well.

I did about 1/2 of the kit (all the lights and some of the engine, no dash or charging system) and ended up throwing in the towel. A local hot rod shop who is very familiar with the AAW kits (they use them in their hotrods) were willing to take the project and finished it for me. That is literally the only thing that I had to "throw in the towel" on with my car and it still makes me mad.

With that said, now that the harness is in, I'm VERY happy with it. It is super easy to expand on, which I have done.

[fclmscott]

i feel your pain, I was expecting something a little more designed towards the VW. Actually a schematic specifically tailored for a VW to go along with this kit would have been great.

[AggieDave]

[Justins69bug]

hi thanks for your diagrams i am having trouble wiring the turn signal switch into the watsons kit i have factory switch with five wires and a new aftermarket one with eight wires and no directions. Im totally at a loss with what wires go where any help would be great.

[mrbigmax]

@Justins69bug
From Airhead Parts technical article for "Turn Signal Switch Replacement, Beetle 68-71, Karmann Ghia 68-71" (my comments italicized):
"Below is a chart of what each wire does:

Black w/Green & White stripe - Connects to Terminal "49a" on Flasher Relay.(49a is the flasher output on the factory relay.)


Black w/Green stripe - Connects to the Right side Turn Signals

Black w/White Stripe - Connects to the Left side Turn Signals

Brown w/White Stripe - Connects to Terminal "S" on the Headlight Dimmer Relay. (This activates the dimmer relay when you pull the lever.)

Brown Wire - Connects to Chassis Ground.

71 Models - White Wire - On Beetles this connects to the Brown wire going to the Horn. (Not used on a 1969)

The Extra Wires - When your Beetle was assembled on the line, a 6 wire switch was originally installed. Because a similar switch with 9 wires was installed on the Type 3 to accommodate the European Parking Light function, VW and SWF eventually superseded the 6 wire switch to the 9 wire style to reduce production costs and streamline their replacement parts inventory. This why you may have more wires than what’s listed above to work with. These wires are Grey, Grey w/Black stripe and Grey w/Red stripe (this last wire is not usually on Reproduction Switches). Simply terminate the ends with electrical tape and tie-wrap them out of the way."

[swhitcomb]

I've been playing with VWs over 20 years. I've never understood the allure of this kit. Just my opinion, but now that I read your experiences I don't like it even more.
_________________
My 71 Ghia Been in my family since 1980
My Patina 66
My 74 Ghia
07 Boxster

[Justins69bug]

ya i liked the idea of the high quality wire and the nice looking fuse box but the kit is nearly installed in my car and the direction s where extremely generic when it came to hooking up switches and gauges all just said refer to manufacture for wiring instructions witch would be ok if the colors matched at all or the kit used factory style relays. It has been a challenge however does look real nice and hopefully everything works well thanks for the help.

[alcapone]

Wow, I just started to open and try and run some of the wires in this kit into to my 69 bug. As I started to think it out then look thru all the wire packages the more confused i got, so I decided to see if I could pick someone's brain about it. Looking at all the wires I began to wonder if all the wire was intended to be used. Your write up says not to use the schematics that you attached, were there schematics you included that would help cause I couldn't find any? Would really like to say, have a conversation some time if possible, any thoughts? Thanks

[fclmscott]

Hi Al,
PM me your number and i'll give you a call.

Frank

[75 buggin]

[fcgrif]

Help! I am installing a new watsons harness in my manx copy buggy. Problem is instructions are for alt an i have generator. Does anyone have a diagram on how to do this. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks fcgrif(Frankie)

[VolksMedic]

Looks clean but a bit confusing

[torsionbar]

very nice work fclmscott, beautiful car too.
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[cuzzinit]

Yes your car looks great, you did good job on the wires. After much searching and procrastination i went with kit from JBugs. I want as as close to whats left of the original as possible, for my sake and maybe for next person.
It arrives today, i'm all excited

[fclmscott]

Thanks for the complements all. Very wise idea cuzinit. At least you'll have a wiring diagram to go by!

[cuzzinit]

not a real good diagram but yes i do have one and most of it is good. My experience with JBugs was horrendous ! i was missing a piece and got some twit of a "tech" on the phone.... they lost my business FOREVER
i don't regret getting a WireWorks loom tho

[Hoobie]

hey all,
been working on restoring/modding a '76 Australian beetle for the last couple of years and have finally reached the spaghetti installation stage. Bought the Watson's streetworks kit a while back and spent today wiring up... one thing...
I got five wires connected to the wipers today. still not sure if the right one is going back to the watson's panel.
Thank #%^@ someone else has been through this already. Very generic instructions etc, website how-to photos are in black and white (how ...quaint), colours on the schematic are mislabelled, nothing is mentioned about what colour wires go back to stock VW switches, and there's no email enquiry line to shoot questions back to them about it.

Go Samba. Frank's pics and diagrams are gold.

What wire/s from the stock VW ignition loom plugged into the column (RED, BLACK/YELLOW, BROWN /BLUE, BLACK and RED/BLACK) go where?
Currently I've got:
br/bl as the door buzzer (i'll use it as an accessory)
RED going to Watson's pink
Black going to +12v always hot
Black/Ylw to headlights (but not to the fuse panel, no?)
Red/blk to Watson's purple (which is hooked up to the push on tab on the starter solenoid)

Would be great to put together an idiot's guide to chopping it all out and starting from scratch. kneebone- thighbone, headbone- neckbone, armbone- footbone, fingerbone-nosebone

Peter

[Hoobie]

"What wire/s from the stock VW ignition loom plugged into the column (RED, BLACK/YELLOW, BROWN /BLUE, BLACK and RED/BLACK) go where?
Currently I've got:
br/bl as the door buzzer (i'll use it as an accessory)
RED going to Watson's pink
Black going to +12v always hot
Black/Ylw to headlights (but not to the fuse panel, no?)
Red/blk to Watson's purple (which is hooked up to the push on tab on the starter solenoid)"

Hope everyone is okay from the storm...

Has everyone been washed away? Bueller?

[Hoobie]