hi guys pretty new to this site hope i have this right .... how easy is it to fit a new wiring loom and hints and tips would be much appreciated and electrics arent my thing many thanks. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I've done it a few times. Once you get the hang of it it's actually pretty 'easy', but if you don't or can't get to grips with the schematic and diagram then you're stuffed. I reckon for a first time you're going to want to take your time, so 2/3 days at a relaxed pace. All the work is at the dash end as you'd expect.
I can see the benefits. It's like house wiring. Over time it gets old and brittle and looses its ability to do what it should. As HorTs has said just follow the schematic and you'll be fine. It's quite fun playing with the wires. It's the initial "oh my word" you get when you see it as a mass of wire that I like Don't forget to get some PVC sleeving for it too to protect it like in the engine bay. It looks so much neater than wrapped in tape. And have fun making it look neat too. It really does make a difference. l could have got carried away with the sleeving. Actually l did a bit. RS Components do loads. You'll want 10, 20, and 30 mm http://uk.rs-online.com/web/c/?searchTerm=PVC+sleeving&sra=oss
It relay does make a difference and gets rid of all those bodges that POs have done. Ron will make them to the correct year and will add any wires you need. http://www.vwendangeredspecies.co.uk/
Its best to document, photograph and label the old loom before you remove it. Then remove the old loom and plan the improvements you want to make - discarding what isn't needed as an example and adding anything you think you might want, engine bay lighting, split charger etc. I had a quotation to have a loom replaced and it was an absolute fortune on £40 an hour. People have to make money so I think the price was fair. I did it myself and saved a fortune. Its also a very good opportunity to improve the security of your bus - you can hide certain elements of the ignition system to make it harder to nick. As PW says, you'll be amazed at the difference for things like lighting and wipers
I charge £120 for cornecting and testing the ends and £120 to rip the old one out and feed the new one in.
I carefully took my 30+ yr old loom out whole and let VW heritage use it as a pattern for the late loom they sell now. (I then got a new loom at a good rate) The new loom was of an outstanding quality but does not come with the block connectors behind the steering column, wiper motor etc., so you have to carefully remove the wires from your old blocks and feed in the new wire terminals from the new loom. This is fiddly and time consuming, but ok when you get the hang of it. The only problem I had was that I had an indicator permanently live on the new loom and traced the problem to two of the double wires which connect to the hazard light switch that the loom maker had wired up wrong. It took me ages to trace this, but all is ok now. Generally it was an ok job to do and i just copied the connections from the old loom to fit the new one (just mark up your old connections well!) I only had to resort to the schematic to trace the fault, so if anyone has the same problem, I'm happy to assist. I am very happy that I fitted the new loom, I did find the old one had broken wires in the sheathing, especially where it went up thru to the front of the bus. This would have been a nightmare to find if I had kept the old loom. I would recommend including a live feed to the front from a split charge system for your stereo etc and front to rear speaker wires too. I forgot to give Heretige the short loom section from the alternator to the regulator and the main battery lead, so I made these up separately and do not believe they are included with the new looms.
