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Westy46
Samba Member
Joined: June 27, 2015
Posts: 91
Location: South Dakota
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 Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 12:50 pm Post subject: 1987 Westy Weekender- Driver Side "A" Pillar Wiring Question |
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| Can anyone tell me what wiring is inside the driver side "A" pillar, and what it may control? I am installing a driver side grab handle and it looks like I hit a wire slightly. |
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Red Ryder
Samba Member
Joined: June 26, 2021
Posts: 834
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 1:05 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westy Weekender- Driver Side "A" Pillar Wiring Question |
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As I recall, the wiring for your ceiling courtesy lights and (maybe) rear speaker wires.
_________________
“Most everyone’s mad here. You may have noticed I am not quite all there myself.” — Cheshire Cat, Adventures of Alice in Wonderland
“Scarlett” — 1990 Vanagon Carat Wolfsburg Edition
Tornado Red |
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leecat
Samba Member
Joined: September 13, 2012
Posts: 755
Location: Regina
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| Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 1:14 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westy Weekender- Driver Side "A" Pillar Wiring Question |
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| I believe the rear wiper motor wiring runs in there as well, if so equipped. |
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Timwhy
Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2009
Posts: 3963
Location: Maine
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Westy46
Samba Member
Joined: June 27, 2015
Posts: 91
Location: South Dakota
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| Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 4:01 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westy Weekender- Driver Side "A" Pillar Wiring Question |
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| I assume the ceiling panel can be removed and that would expose the wiring that runs down the rail. Thoughts on exposing the wiring? |
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campism
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007
Posts: 4431
Location: Richmond VA
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| Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 4:10 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westy Weekender- Driver Side "A" Pillar Wiring Question |
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You can find a drill collar to keep the bit from going in too deeply when you drill the holes or just be very careful, then use a bicycle spoke or something to move the wires out of the way of the screws.
_________________
'87 Westy in Wolfram Grey Metallic |
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Westy46
Samba Member
Joined: June 27, 2015
Posts: 91
Location: South Dakota
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| Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 4:24 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westy Weekender- Driver Side "A" Pillar Wiring Question |
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| I hit wire one time out of four holes drilled, but appears that's all it takes. I do not have interior lights or radio now. |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16050
Location: Brookeville, MD
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ALIKA T3
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2009
Posts: 6021
Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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Westy46
Samba Member
Joined: June 27, 2015
Posts: 91
Location: South Dakota
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| Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2022 5:43 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westy Weekender- Driver Side "A" Pillar Wiring Question |
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Quick followup-I was able to get the radio working due to a fuse being blown. My driver side door dome light and the light bar behind the driver seat are both not working. All the other fuses are good. The radio and amp are on their own separate fuse link.
I did hit a wire, but now wondering how to repair? Does anyone have a repair method on this one? Can the ceiling be exposed and the wires pulled?
Thanks
Paul |
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cmayna
Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2014
Posts: 1134
Location: SF Bay area, CA
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| Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2022 6:32 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westy Weekender- Driver Side "A" Pillar Wiring Question |
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I put an grab handle on my A pillar and am so happy with the results. Best addition I did to this rig.
_________________
'90 Westy / automatic.
If I'm not working on the camper or my '50 Chebbie truck, I'm either fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
Craig |
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DuncanS
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013
Posts: 4287
Location: New Hampshire
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| Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2022 7:45 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westy Weekender- Driver Side "A" Pillar Wiring Question |
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When drilling into a blind zone where wires live, I first drill through a dowel and adjust the dowel and drill length so there is only a 32/nd of an inch of full drill diameter past the dowel plus the thickness of the steel. You have to guess on that. This way when the drill breaks through, it doesn't punch into the space violently and.................maybe miss the wires? Not fool proof, but wouldn't leave home without it.
Duncan |
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Westy46
Samba Member
Joined: June 27, 2015
Posts: 91
Location: South Dakota
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| Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2022 8:09 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westy Weekender- Driver Side "A" Pillar Wiring Question |
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| Yes, I completely failed to follow the correct drilling procedures. I would like to know how to fix the wire since it is inside the "A" pillar? |
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joetiger 
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5032
Location: denver
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| Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:09 am Post subject: Re: 1987 Westy Weekender- Driver Side "A" Pillar Wiring Question |
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| Westy46 wrote: |
| Yes, I completely failed to follow the correct drilling procedures. I would like to know how to fix the wire since it is inside the "A" pillar? |
Somebody probably has a better idea, but...
I would find the end of the wire(s) up around the dome light above the door. Cut those and connect long strands of new wire to the dash side.
Find the old wires at the bottom/behind the dash. Pull the wiring through until the damaged part arrives. Then either fix the damaged wire or just use your new wiring that you just pulled through as replacement. Connect it all in together where it needs to be connected, heat shrink it, and you're good.
I don't know if this will work or not in practice (the wires might get caught on something) but that's how I would approach it.
I find myself having to come up with solutions like this quite often because I damage shit constantly. 
In the future, slide a piece of hose over your drill bit until just the depth you need is showing out at the end of your drill. That's a nice trick I learned right here on The Samba. (I learned it too late for a few things, naturally.)
_________________
Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
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Red Ryder
Samba Member
Joined: June 26, 2021
Posts: 834
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2022 4:25 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westy Weekender- Driver Side "A" Pillar Wiring Question |
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Your test results indicate you likely damaged either the power (red) or ground wire (brown) to the courtesy light above the drivers seat. Remove the light fixture to expose these wires. Securely attach a string to one end of the damaged wire and pull it from the other end far enough to repair the damage. Then use the string to pull it back into position.
_________________
“Most everyone’s mad here. You may have noticed I am not quite all there myself.” — Cheshire Cat, Adventures of Alice in Wonderland
“Scarlett” — 1990 Vanagon Carat Wolfsburg Edition
Tornado Red |
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DuncanS
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013
Posts: 4287
Location: New Hampshire
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| Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2022 10:34 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westy Weekender- Driver Side "A" Pillar Wiring Question |
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I like Joetiger's solution. Use the old wire as a messenger to pull a new. If possible avoid splices in an out of the way place where you can never see to inspect or know if everything is OK.
Duncan |
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vanis13
Samba Member
Joined: August 15, 2010
Posts: 2894
Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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| Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2022 10:52 pm Post subject: Re: 1987 Westy Weekender- Driver Side "A" Pillar Wiring Question |
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when using old wires, pull through the new wires PLUS a string to leave in there for future mods.
_________________
83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace
www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make |
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6696
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2022 4:52 am Post subject: Re: 1987 Westy Weekender- Driver Side "A" Pillar Wiring Question |
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| Westy46 wrote: |
| Yes, I completely failed to follow the correct drilling procedures. I would like to know how to fix the wire since it is inside the "A" pillar? |
Liquid electrical tape on the end of a Zip-ty might work depending on how bad the wires were damaged.
If the wires got twisted together and insulation damaged then you might have a short.
Yoy could always try to pull new wire through the pillar- it is is tedious and challenging, but it can be done. I added 2 new wires to my passenger side and have a grab handle there. Yoy need to obviously make sure your screws are long enough to safely work for strength, but not sharp pointy sheet metal screw ends to pierce wires. After the screw size is found , diameter, you can file the ends off to get rid of the points and make the screws shorter to give the wires room. You could possibly force the wires to one side with a toothpick or something similar and hold them there nd then inject a glue to keep them out ouf the way.
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Westy46
Samba Member
Joined: June 27, 2015
Posts: 91
Location: South Dakota
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| Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2023 5:13 am Post subject: Re: 1987 Westy Weekender- Driver Side "A" Pillar Wiring Question |
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I wanted to followup quick on this topic. I confirmed the wire I cut powers the two lights in the photos attached. My local Subaru dealership pulled a new wire as seen in the photos to repair. The grab handle is perfect. Very fortunate to have a great technician at Subaru.
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tarandusVDub
Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2010
Posts: 1642
Location: Between Here and There
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| Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2023 9:54 am Post subject: Re: 1987 Westy Weekender- Driver Side "A" Pillar Wiring Question |
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I just did the A Pillar grab handle mod in my 1990 Doka and love it. But, on the way home I realized my stereo isn't working. I didn't do anything smart to avoid it, so I'm sure I hit wires.
All 3 of my ceiling lights are working, and I believe the rear seat speaker wires go through the doors rather than the A pillar on a doka.
Fuse #3 is good, which makes sense b/c my ceiling lights are working...
To visually inspect the wires I'd have to pull the handle bases, which seems problematic because of how the screw collars expand once inside the pillar. Anyone else have this particular issue?
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1990 Syncro 16" DoppleKabine 2.1 DJ 112i
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Sold: 1972 Bay Campmobile; 1984 Westy, base model, 2WD. |
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