TheSamba.com :: View topic - [SOLVED - kinda] '86 Camper

Fri Sep 04, 2020 12:51 pm

Hi there VW community !

Proud new owner of a 86 camper here !

The radio unit in our Vanagon is dead. It is an OEM Heidelberg IV with 3 plugs (Front speakers, rear speakers and power).

I can figure out wich wires to use in the installation of a new stereo but I would like to avoid playing around with the wiring and use a harness. At first, I was going to ordre the GoWesty one (https://www.gowesty.com/product/audio/4297/wiring-...stereo-?v=), but it seems incompatible with my 3 plug situations.

Is there any other harness available ? A quick search on the internet and I couldnt find anything.

Thanks !!!

Fri Sep 04, 2020 1:12 pm

Hey congrats on your camper! Ive had mine 40 years come October! I have tried figuring the harness in other vehicles, and in the long run found it easier to just run new wires, I know thats not the answer you were looking for but just wanted to throw in my two cents anyway. But mostly congrats on your Camper purchase !!!

Fri Sep 04, 2020 2:27 pm

Just a heads-up -- on my 84 the speaker wires to the rear used a common ground for both left and right (i.e. only 3 wires running to the back). That worked fine with the original unit but the Sony replacement needed a separate ground to each rear speaker so I had to run one more wire back there.

It would work with a common ground but sounded awful.

Fri Sep 04, 2020 2:35 pm

Thats exactly the problem I had on my old ford van, Its so simpleton just run new wires! In the end you will save so much time. Good luck!

Sun Sep 06, 2020 7:12 pm

Thanks for the heads-up !

I believe my rear speakers do not share a common ground since I have 4 speakers going to the back of the van.

I am planning on re-wiring the front speakers, theres some weird sodering from the previous owner and its not that much of a hard job to do. I will try to salvage the rear wiring.

As for the radio harness, I orderded the extension below. It fits a Volkswagen Beetle 1998-2011. I will cut it and had a harness in the van and use the other half to plug a aftermarket radio.