TheSamba.com :: View topic - Back-up light Harness?

Thu Jan 21, 2021 6:42 pm

I just bought a 83 single cab diesel that came from Italy. First watercooler for me. Been working out some electrical gremlins ( broken terminals, bulbs,dirty connections, etc...).
The last thing that I have to get to work is the Back up lights,but here's the thing. There is a switch on the trans ( 5sp) but no wires connected. There are NO wires there at all. This truck is amazingly original and I haven't found any PO hackery with it yet.
My question is where do the wires to the back-up switch come from? The main harness from the front goes into a black box mounted on the front left of the engine compartment.
Weird thing is, The guy I got this one from has a 84 from Italy as well. That one doesn't even have a back-up light switch on the trans Or wires for one.

Thanks....Pete

Thu Jan 21, 2021 6:57 pm

I belive it goes into the round T-10 in the black box... If I get another cocktail in me, I'll go to the garage, dig out the Bently and check. Although an Italian single cab diesel might be different, lol

Thu Jan 21, 2021 7:55 pm

in my 84 its a 2 gang connector

A in this photo. grey/green wire and brown

i should mention, it's a US spec 84 camper NOT a truck

Thu Jan 21, 2021 8:11 pm

Thanks guys.....

Skills, is that located in that black box? I'm gonna open up that box tomorrow and see if I can find where something might plug in....

Pete

Fri Jan 22, 2021 9:01 am

yes, that is in the black box where everything connects together. again, not sure if it's the same on a truck, but vw seemed to be reasonably consistent with this type of thing

Mon Jan 25, 2021 12:59 pm

Just to update this thread, It appears that in Italy, back-up lights are not or were not required back in 83 when this truck was built. I can not image that VW would have made a different tail-light harness, but they did.... there are not any wires in this harness for back-up circuit. There is also a separate sub-harness that goes between the black box and the switch on the transmission. I was able to find what i needed from a scrap yard to get these lights working.

Thanks for your help....Pete