[SOLVED - kinda] '86 Camper - 3 plugs radio harness

[djosimd]

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 !!!

[calo1956]

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 !!!
_________________
Enjoy the ride....
72 bug
80 westfalia

[Ahwahnee]

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.

[calo1956]

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!
_________________
Enjoy the ride....
72 bug
80 westfalia

[djosimd]

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.