After some fiddling around last year me and a mate discovered that the previous owner had wired things in a way only he understood and used little bits of a certain colour to conect to another coloured piece of wire to run to god knows where. So on discovering this we thought it may be an idea to re wire the whole bus. There are a lot of things that dont work anymore like the interior light front and back etc and the dash displays are a bit of a mare too. Also he's used a dirty great old grey fuse box as the main box and neither me or my mate can work out what goes where or how this box helps. I'm planning on tracing the wires and looking at what goes where but not being very electrical savy i thought that a electric circuit map might help me but Rusty never came with one. Does anyone have something that may help me when i go on to re wire her. Kinda like an idiots guide as i am a nut job ) I'm really crap at these things but after having a successful first year with Rusty i really want to get cracking with sorting her out so we can expand on our trips out in her this year.
Wiring diagrams are here - http://www.vintagebus.com/wiring/index.html Once you get the hang of you should be fine.
One note would be that the later diagrams are a bit of a pig to understand. The earlier ones are much easier so it might be worth looking at earlier diagrams rather than the one for your year.
the vw diagrams are schematics but some older workshop manuals have a picture type if that would be easier to understand?
Even if you've got a Late, take a look at the wiring diagram for an Early, which lays things out van-shaped. They don't differ that much for the main bits. A good starting point.
That is great stuff peeps Thank you that will make life a damm sight easier for me. I'll let you all know how i go and if if i learn something i never knew ) Top stuff.
Get a decent circuit tester as well as a multimeter. Look for a power probe or similar. It will save you hours and they are easy to use
another good buy when rewiring is them black shrink wrap tubes that you heat up and they shrink around connections and soldered cuts ,kakes them connections safe n sound ....get em in halfrauds in box... contained hundred or so allsorted sizes
Man you have all been really helpful. Gonna be getting busy this Sunday so will update you all. Needs to be done and i need to learn. Getting really excited about starting work on her just hope after i brave bigger challenges she still works ok. The Mrs calls me Shreck due to my ability to break things ) I'm more demolition man than mr fix it. Thanks guys and girls
Get all your stuff from Vehicle Wiring Products - nice cable in the proper VW colours, proper brass crimps, proper crimpers, cloth tape, etc.
^ whs ^ and they have a basic guide to cable sizes which is handy in case of uncertainty. Not the cheapest for crimp terminals but a much better investment than some of the cheap and nasty stuff that is around.
Anyone using those blue crimps will get a slap... PS Volksbolts sell a nice crimper. PPS VWP also sell nice PVC sleeving for a proper job. You wouldn't leave cabling unsleeved, would you? Na. PPPS Also sell the multiway connectors, which are very handy. They've sprouted all over in my van.
^^ what they said always try to use the correct colour wiring if you can using sleeving or heat shrink over the backs of the crimps helps give a bit of support to the wire making it less likely to fray and break away from the crimp.........and it looks neater
Good stuff Blimey i'll be a fully qualified sparky with the ammount of great advice you lot have given me
