What was the/a PO thinking here?

[Paulbeard]

What's this about?

I found it like that three years ago and never got around to sorting out what they do/where those go. You can see the multiport connector just down at bottom left, and that's where one of those wires goes. They are all blue/white, so I assume they are stock/OG wiring. I added the ziptie — it used to go into some kind of butt crimp but that was looking flaky. Lots of splices and crimps back in there…maybe from the TiiCo conversion. There was an alarm in here at one time and who knows what else…

I thought I saw somewhere that the later (post 85 or so) fuse panels had unused terminals on the back to avoid cutting into/adding vampire taps. I'd love to remove some of the ones I have but I don't see any unused terminals on mine. If I don't have that option, is there a type of terminal block y'all recommend? I have a few things wired in (GPS tracker, footwell lighting, USB power ports) that could be more neatly done. I have access to good marine supply stores so I hope to get some wire (maybe blue or white/blue — anything but red/black) and a terminal block if they have one that suits.
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Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs

[Abscate]

It's actually not bad but the standard for wiring here on Samba is sub-basement, frankly. That zip tie is taking all the strain on that connects, it's probably ugly inside though

Yeah,no one is a fan of those taps. They suck
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.ssS!

[AZ Landshaper]

That meets code from what Ive seen under the dash of most old VW busses. If you dont have an auxillary head lamp hot wired to the cig lighter and finished off w scotch tape, you might not be driving a VW.
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Support Small Business.

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85 Weekender w/ EJ22
Previously
64, 71, 72, 73, 76, 81, 84, 85 & 87 Campmobiles and Westfalias
and a 67 bug.

[Vanagon Nut]

A PO, or shop, used those same taps to install my remote key gizmo. So far so good.

I guess it would depend on the configuration of the van but there should be available spade connectors on the supply side (pre fuse) of the older style fuse panels. IIRC, there are also open spades on the load side but one would have to do the math to figure if the circuit could handle any added load. Depending on the amount of total load, you could run a fused + wire from one of those [edit: pre fuse] spades to a fuse block or just a new fused + wire from the battery to a fuse block. The area in front of the glove box can be a good location for the new fuse block and/or relays.

Those blue striped wires may be part of the dash light circuit. IF so, and it's on an '84 or older van, that circuit is not fused from the factory.

Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[VicVan]

Grey and blue is dash lights.Where does the red wire go ?
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'90 Little Blue Truck, 2WD auto, FAS GenV 2.0 NA (AVH)

[mikemtnbike]

I ended up using something like these to wire in oil pressure gauge and I'm pretty happy with them:
https://www.amazon.com/ABN-Fuse-Tap-Holder-5-Pack/...ircuit+ato
Also I don't have it in front of me but yes the Bentley says 86-91 is supposed to have two "blank" fuse slots - 14 and 15 maybe?

Disclaimer: I am not the person who should be giving wiring advice, I can barely figure it out every time.
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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual

[Paulbeard]

[wcdennis]

The other issue, is that VW added some extra wires for options your van might not have, so you find stock, free floating connectors, only there to add another layer of confusion.

[Paulbeard]

Exactly. Plus the Bentley has 6 and 17 as vacant but doesn't show a fuse for the rear washer/wiper which the owner's manual shows on 17. I think some trial and guess will be in order.
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Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs

[SCM]

Do you have an aux battery?

IIRC, I have a similar bundle of wires all ganged together (using one of those threaded plastic caps) at the cig lighter wire where my aux power feed connects to the OEM harness.
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'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine

[Paulbeard]

I do have an aux battery but it's not to blame for any of this… just pulled a few of the vampire taps and found that some are connecting stock dash lighting…like the lights for the fan and other stuff, all connected w taps or wrapped in that bundle. Pretty sure that's not how it rolled off the lot.

and peep this:

That's a ground tree waiting to happen. Wish I had ordered a couple when I ordered the new heater core. VW no longer makes or stocks them.

This is becoming a bigger project, as they will do.

Also discovered why my aux battery keeps dying: the solar charge controller isn't sending any power to it. Even a day like today (rain and heavy cloud) shows power from the solar panel but the controller is doing nothing with it. One &*&ing thing after another.

EDIT: ordered a Victron controller to see if this controller is dead and to be able to monitor it (since it comes with this newfangled Bluetooth stuff). Should be enough to keep me busy for the next few days.
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Currently -> Frida: 87 Tizian Red (mostly) Vanagon GL Westfalia w/ 2.0L ABA conversion
Formerly -> Steward of a 73 Super Beetle (Beater) and 67 Beetle 1300 (Little Max) both names by POs

[Sodo]

My radio is wired like that.
I don't like my radio, it's 'temporary.'
But it does work.

That's a PO (present owner) excuse.
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb