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Mon Aug 22, 2011 6:06 am

hopefully, this will be the last stupid question i ask on here for a while. i have things mostly back together, but i can't figure out where this red wire goes. it's got a terminal that would fit on the alternator (where the other two fat red wires attach). it's coming from a bundle that also runs to the a/c compressor (i don't have the a/c hooked up).

i think i remember considering sticking on some tape with a label to indicate where it came from (as i did with the other wires), but i thought, "i won't forget where this one goes."

thanks again,
james

Mon Aug 22, 2011 6:13 am

When this happens to me, I check to see which terminals it will reach. If only one, we have a winner. If mulitiple points, then you need more research. Check to see if VW labeled it with a wire code, look it up. If no code, follow the loom.

Or... maybe one of the more learned gurus here will just know.

Mon Aug 22, 2011 6:33 am

Need to see what part of the harness it came out of to compare and make a suggestion.

Mon Aug 22, 2011 7:26 am

Perhaps if you mention what year you have (and other details) it will be easier for someone with the same year & engine to identify it.

Mon Aug 22, 2011 7:35 am

That looks like the main power feed for the rear A/C unit. It connects to the alternator stud along with some other red wires. If you don't plan to run the A/C you can leave it off.

Mark

duderanchero wrote: hopefully, this will be the last stupid question i ask on here for a while. i have things mostly back together, but i can't figure out where this red wire goes. it's got a terminal that would fit on the alternator (where the other two fat red wires attach). it's coming from a bundle that also runs to the a/c compressor (i don't have the a/c hooked up).

....................

thanks again,
james

Mon Aug 22, 2011 7:56 am

look at 8x125 stud in picture ,i do belive it goes there. on back of alt .

Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:46 am

Mark is not crazy, he is right.

crazyvwvanman wrote: That looks like the main power feed for the rear A/C unit. It connects to the alternator stud along with some other red wires. If you don't plan to run the A/C you can leave it off.

Mark

duderanchero wrote: hopefully, this will be the last stupid question i ask on here for a while. i have things mostly back together, but i can't figure out where this red wire goes. it's got a terminal that would fit on the alternator (where the other two fat red wires attach). it's coming from a bundle that also runs to the a/c compressor (i don't have the a/c hooked up).

....................

thanks again,
james

Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:35 am

thanks to everyone for the replies! i figured it might be the a/c power, as that would explain why i didn't label whence it came: it wasn't connected to anything.

btw, it's a '91 carat. i'm pretty out of it by the end of these all-night sessions, and am unable to focus on such mundane, yet crucial details. i should probably get some sleep before i try firing her up, just to make sure i didn't forget something(s).

Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:45 pm

late 2.1 app-- it comes from the lr corner of the er and powers the 50A fuse for the ac and the clutch connectors too.
there is one more hot tapper in the er-- in the black plug box theres a hot lug the starter takes from--
mark is right here--

Mon Aug 22, 2011 3:44 pm

A better question is why don't you have the AC hooked up. You live in Texas. When the AC is working correctly it is pretty good. Especially in high humidity like here in PA.

Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:23 am

i haven't hooked up the a/c because i don't like dealing with electricity. i understand simple circuits, but i'm almost certain trying to get it running would mire me in frustration.

and yes, it's mighty hot down here.