Hello again!

Wayne Venomous · 16 September 2007, 11:48

Hi,

I joined last year having just got a 1971 Super Beetle (or 1302 as the flat screen Super Beetle is known as in Europe).

I've been putting together an electrics website for aircooled VWs and this will certainly include the electrical connections for semi-auto Bugs as I will be rewiring our 1971 Super once it's been restored.

It's proberbly going to be quite a while before I get around to doing much else on the website as my wife is about to give birth to our first child in less than two weeks!

Here's the website so far anyway:
http://www.vwelectrics.com

Please note - at the moment this is for rewiring VWs to Euro-spec rather than US spec. I will be including US spec rewires eventually.

68autobug · 16 September 2007, 15:21

Hi Wayne,
where are You located?
its hard to find European or UK wiring diagrams
[including Australian beetles]
Most are the USA types..
I completely rewired My beetle [and haven't really finished it as yet]
although its been on the road for 2 1/2 years...
I did use the original fusebox plus a lot more relays, and connector brackets
and large cables going back to the battery...
I am finding the weak point IS the fuses, or fusebox..
although its been polished with a wire brush, I'm still having intermittant
problems now and then..
I just touch the fuses and everything works again...
I do have circuit breakers I will eventually install instead of the fusebox..

My Beetle is a 1968 Auto Stick
Lee

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

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volkenstein · 16 September 2007, 15:34

Hello again Wayne!
Tell you what, check out the Electrical Forum on www.shoptalkforums.com . Lot's of neat stuff happening there as well as some real world experiences with some of the "off the shelf" kits available. I think that a non-US based vw electrics website is a great idea.

Lee, How do you find the SP (Scientific Publications) wiring diags? The 1302 one has been pretty accurate thus far for Aus spec wiring, although I like that the Bentley tells you what connector is located where on the vehicle.

Wayne, have you gotten any further with those mods you were mentioning (brakes I think) from the old board?

Regards
Sean aka Volkenstein

Wayne Venomous · 16 September 2007, 17:43

Hi Lee,

I'm in the UK, North East England to be precise so as you'll proberbly see most of the vehicles on my site are right hand drive models.
The wiring diagrams on my site have been completely redesigned by myself as I don't trust the original VW spec diagram (especially that unfused wire going straight to the headlight switch!) and the complete lack of relays.

I know just what you mean with the stock fuse box! I never use the stock fuse box when I'm doing a rewire as it's the source of so many problems. I'm starting to have similar problems with the switches now, especially the headlight switch. I did consider circuit breakers but the cost really put me off. I can get modern blade fuse boxes for less than 5 UK Pounds each (about 12 Australian Dollars) and the fuses I buy in bulk so they're pennies.

Also, one of my rewires did prevent a Baywindow van being stolen - if you remove a certain relay and a certain fuse the whole electrical system is rendered useless and is impossible to hotwire!

Quote from: 68autobug on 16 September 2007, 15:21

Hi Wayne,
where are You located?
its hard to find European or UK wiring diagrams
[including Australian beetles]
Most are the USA types..
I completely rewired My beetle [and haven't really finished it as yet]
although its been on the road for 2 1/2 years...
I did use the original fusebox plus a lot more relays, and connector brackets
and large cables going back to the battery...
I am finding the weak point IS the fuses, or fusebox..
although its been polished with a wire brush, I'm still having intermittant
problems now and then..
I just touch the fuses and everything works again...
I do have circuit breakers I will eventually install instead of the fusebox..

My Beetle is a 1968 Auto Stick
Lee

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

[/b]

Wayne Venomous · 16 September 2007, 17:57

Hi Sean,

Thanks for the shoptalk link - I didn't realise there was an electrical section. Must give it a try.

To be honest I haven't really done anything with the 1302. Not long after we got it two of my relatives passed away and then we found out my wife was pregnant so I've had quite a few other things on my mind!

The 1302 will be going into storage soon whilst we sort things out - we have been considering restoring it back to stock though and retaining the drum brakes as right hand drive 1302 (non-S models) with semi-auto transmission seem to be rare. Plus I already have a mad custom Bug (a Baja) so it would make sense to have on stock Bug.

Quote from: volkenstein on 16 September 2007, 15:34
Hello again Wayne!
Tell you what, check out the Electrical Forum on www.shoptalkforums.com . Lot's of neat stuff happening there as well as some real world experiences with some of the "off the shelf" kits available. I think that a non-US based vw electrics website is a great idea.

Wayne, have you gotten any further with those mods you were mentioning (brakes I think) from the old board?

Regards
Sean aka Volkenstein

Bookwus · 17 September 2007, 04:55

Hiya Wayne,

Quote from: Wayne Venomous on 16 September 2007, 17:43
Also, one of my rewires did prevent a Baywindow van being stolen - if you remove a certain relay and a certain fuse the whole electrical system is rendered useless and is impossible to hotwire!

Being the owner of a 1970 Baywindow I'd certainly be interested in knowing more about this! I've got my wiring diagrams (yes, USA specs) trying to figure out which relay and fuse to play with.

And congratulations on your upcoming family addition!

Wayne Venomous · 17 September 2007, 10:41

Quote from: Bookwus on 17 September 2007, 04:55 Being the owner of a 1970 Baywindow I'd certainly be interested in knowing more about this! I've got my wiring diagrams (yes, USA specs) trying to figure out which relay and fuse to play with.

On my redesign of the electrical system instead of all the electrical items that are live when the ignition is on going directly through the ignition switch, they go through a relay (it's worth doing this even if you're not rewiring the car as it improves the electrical system considerably as you don't have the electrical resistance from the ignition switch)

Remove this relay or the fuse that feeds it and the car will not start as there's no power to the starter solenoid or ignition coil. You could even replace the fuse with a blown fuse if you really wanted to.

As far as we can tell, the scum who was trying to steal the 1973 Baywindow I'd rewired was clearly familiar with aircooled VWs as they'd opened the driver's door without damaging the lock or breaking the window. However, they hadn't even bothered trying to hotwire it - it seems like they took one look at the non-standard fuse boxes and relays and just gave up.

Quote from: Bookwus on 17 September 2007, 04:55
And congratulations on your upcoming family addition!

Thanks!
No doubt she'll be a petrol-head too, just like her Mother and Father!

68autobug · 17 September 2007, 13:35

Hi Guys,

I've just remembered that I do have a new [non VW] fusebox somewhere...
so I may look into that...
main reason I've never used a new fusebox, is because it wouldn't fit into the original hole under the dash....
I never really thought of placing one under the bonnet...

but I am serious about replacing the VW fusebox, as it has caused problems..
which I can fix easily, but My wife can't...
so she doesn't like to drive it out of town...

Lee

helping keep volkswagen automatics on the road..
http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

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Wayne Venomous · 17 September 2007, 16:06

I do tend to leave the original fuse box in place if it means there's going to be a gap. Plus it always helps people understand the massive differences between the stock fuse box and the modern blade fuse box!

I'm not sure what the availability is like in other parts of the world but if you want a really good fuse and relay box very cheap find a junked BMW.
The fuse boxes are really well made (German build quality - we already know about that

) and the orange Bosch relays that every BMW has don't fail. Ever! Only electrical problems I've ever had on BMWs is due to bad earth connections in the tail lights.

I've been using second-hand BMWs as daily drivers for a few years now and it always amazes me how the electrical system just keeps on going. I had a 1986 E30 320i last year and despite being 20 years old it still had all it's original fuses and relays and never let me down once! I've now got a 1993 E34 525 Turbo Diesel and that's still maintaining the reputation of the others.

I've also still got one of my previous daily drivers, a junk 1989 E34 520i in my back yard which has so far donated 20 orange Bosch relays for various projects and will soon be donating it's rear trailing arms, brakes and driveshafts for my Monster Baja Bug project. But that's another story......

ferp420 · 02 November 2008, 17:52

kill bosh they ruined my vw

Bookwus · 03 November 2008, 01:49

Hiya ferp,

Quote from: ferp420 on 02 November 2008, 17:52
kill bosh they ruined my vw

Care to offer an explanation?

68autobug · 04 November 2008, 14:55

Hi Wayne,

I have a couple of New fuseboxes , one of which i will be installing in My beetle at some time in the future.
I am thinking of installing the new fusebox where the old one is...
I may even use two fuseboxes...
as I have used lots of extra single fuses in My wiring...

Sean,
I found the SP - Gregorys manuals electrical circuit diagrams
are the closest thing to the Australian beetle wiring circuits...
most books have the US wiring diagrams...

I used a circuit diagram from 1969 beetle I downloaded from that type 2 website.
My sister in law had it printed out in color on a large printer..

I have installed a remote alarm in My beetle
which flashes the blinkers when its activated etc...
the lights also flash [about 10 times] when i open a door...
lol
I have also bought a remote locking kit...
now that will be an experience installing that...

cheers

Lee

ferp420 · 04 November 2008, 22:53

every car ive owned that had anykind of bosh parts in it died because of bosh electronics from my vws to bmws to volvos i end up ripping out all bosh and run my own wireing right now my rewireing looks like a bowl of same colored noodles running everywhere but im well on my way to saving my bus from bosh and someday when im old and gray i might get around to finishing it ive only gotten to the basics light ignition radio everything else works when it wants to

Bookwus · 04 November 2008, 23:25

Hiya ferp,

Quote from: ferp420 on 04 November 2008, 22:53 every car ive owned that had anykind of bosh parts in it died because of bosh electronics.......

How so? Please explain how your cars died. Give some specific examples please. I'd like to know more.

68autobug · 05 November 2008, 15:09

Nothing wrong with Bosch -
i'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS

all parts do wear out -- eventually..

remember that original beetle parts are still going fine
in many cars... over 30 - 40 years old...

I don't use old Bosch parts from old volvos or BMWs.. etc...

but I'm happy with BOSCH parts...

rememeber that the parts weren't supposed to last 30+ years

Lee