TheSamba.com :: View topic - Wiper Motor Pigtails / Wiring 1974 Super Beetle

Sat Apr 27, 2024 1:44 pm

i am new to this form. I just acquired a 1974 Super Beetle and am in the process of installing a new wiper motor. I am stuck on where some wires go.

The pigtail from the OLD motor that plugs into the switch has SIX wires to it.

The NEW motor (from Wolfsberg West) has FOUR wires to it and TWO separate wires BLUE & BROWN with spade connectors on them.

Where do the BLUE & BROWN wires go? (I suspect one is power to the fuse and one is a ground but do not know!)

The new wiring colors do not match the old wiring so they do not correspond to the wiring schematic in the Bentley manual. The wiper motor shipped with no instructions at all.

ANY HELP WILL BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU

Sat Apr 27, 2024 2:03 pm

Here ya go, taken from JBugs tech tips.

Terminal - Motor Colors
53B - Red
53A - Black
53E - White
53 - Green
31 - Brown
15/30 - Blue

Sat Apr 27, 2024 3:21 pm

Thank you RayDog. I have that information.

I am in Kindergarten on this. In the most basic I need / want to know physically under the dash were these two wires plug in. If someone has photos that is of even more help. My back can't spend too much time under the dash.

Also, any good tips on pulling the old wires out and threading the new ones in will be appreciated also.

Again I am a kinder (child for the non German speakers!) on this one.

Sat Apr 27, 2024 3:34 pm

Looks like 53a and 30 both go to fuse 10. Take a few minutes to look at the wiring diagrams here and you might become a Jugendlicher.

Sun Apr 28, 2024 10:37 am

I was mulling this over last night and this morning and am becoming more familiar with our German friends' electrical schematics.

I have been putter around with a late '60s Mopar for years but this is a new continent for me.

1) I put my own chart together with terminal #s and original wiring colors and the colors on the new repoduction washer motor. I will try to attache below. If anyone sees any mistakes please let me know.

2) Where should or can I ground this (brown wire) as the ground wire is shorter. I can make my own ground in the "air-box" but wonder where the old one is grounded (location)?

3)Dose anyone know why the reproduced wiper motor manufacture does not have all six wireds go to the wiper switch (stalk switch) as the original does? It seems it would make it more "plug and play".

4) Will all work properly if I just cut the wires at the old motor and connect all the new motor wires to the old (in good shape) with shrink tube crimps? It may not be original but avoid crawling around under the dash.

Terminal - Motor Colors Metric Gauge 1 = ~18 AWG
NEW ORIGINAL
High Speed 53B Red Black/Yellow

Park / Power / Fuse Box 53A Black Black/Gray or White

Park Return 53E White Green

Low Speed 53 Green Black

Ground 31 *Brown Brown

Power / Fuse 15 / 30 *Blue Orange/Blue?

Sun Apr 28, 2024 2:39 pm

ChosenBug wrote:

4) Will all work properly if I just cut the wires at the old motor and connect all the new motor wires to the old (in good shape) with shrink tube crimps? It may not be original but avoid crawling around under the dash.
?

It’s your car you can do that if practical.
But to many of us it would be like Mr Bean’s version of Whistler’s Mother!

Sun Apr 28, 2024 3:13 pm

I enjoy doing things the correct or hard way. Take the old motor apart unsolder the wires. Do the same on the new motor so you end up with an original plug on the new part. Easy peasy.

Wed Jul 09, 2025 12:47 pm

So what did you end up doing? I was hoping the Jbugs wiper motor would be more plug and play

Fri Jul 11, 2025 12:30 pm

Actually, despite my misgivings and lack of direction, replacing the wiper motor does not require understanding pin numbers and resoldering the new motor.
You have to make three connections after you replace the old motor and wiring. Before you try to pull the old wiring, remove the radio and on the bulkhead right behind it you will see the ground wire attached with a bunch of other brown grounds. Disconnect.
You will also see the power wire that leaves the wire bundle to the wiper motor. Follow it and note where is connects, I just pulled it off blindly, but would be easier to take off the fuse panel and find the proper feed.
Under the steering column, you will see on the drivers side the connector that is for the wiper. Will match the new one, but has less connectors. Don’t sweat it. There was an additional wire (green with black) that goes to something, but not important. I think.
So install the new ground wire (brown) power wire (blue) and slide in the new connector under the steering column. Works great.