Blue/grey wire near stereo and heater switches - what is it?

An alchemy of sparks, copper wire and earth

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

Stesaw
Registered user
Posts: 1892
Joined: 10 Aug 2019, 23:30
80-90 Mem No: 17004
Location: Coventry

Re: Blue/grey wire near stereo and heater switches - what is it?

Post by Stesaw »

Should do til the engine starts and you get oil pressure iirc
1985 LeisureDrive 2.1DJ 5 Speed syncro conversion project.
1979 LT 2.0CH Westy project

Cataldoodledoo
Registered user
Posts: 58
Joined: 02 Sep 2020, 22:11
80-90 Mem No: 17264
Location: Bristol

Re: Blue/grey wire near stereo and heater switches - what is it?

Post by Cataldoodledoo »

Great, another thing to fix!

Any ideas of where to start? What I’m looking for?
Early 1985 VW T25 1.9 Watercooled

Stesaw
Registered user
Posts: 1892
Joined: 10 Aug 2019, 23:30
80-90 Mem No: 17004
Location: Coventry

Re: Blue/grey wire near stereo and heater switches - what is it?

Post by Stesaw »

Could be the led thats gone, or it could be wiring. Not sure if a duff sensor would do it either. 
1985 LeisureDrive 2.1DJ 5 Speed syncro conversion project.
1979 LT 2.0CH Westy project

User avatar
Mocki
Membership Admin
Posts: 16957
Joined: 29 Sep 2005, 09:27
80-90 Mem No: 428
Location: Mansfield Notts
Contact:

Re: Blue/grey wire near stereo and heater switches - what is it?

Post by Mocki »

Take the brown wire off the main oil pressure switch and connect it to the engine case ( earth it ) if the light lights it’s the sender , if not, it’s either the wire ( check further up the loom for continuity) or possibly the dash , unusual for it to be the actual led , but possible I suppose 
Steve
tel / txt O7947-137911
👀
________________

1989 2.1LpgWBX HiTop Leisuredrive Camper
1988 2.1 Caravelle TS TinTop Camper 
 

User avatar
Robsey
Registered user
Posts: 1159
Joined: 19 May 2012, 20:45
80-90 Mem No: 11137
Location: East Manchester

Re: Blue/grey wire near stereo and heater switches - what is it?

Post by Robsey »

I think the weak spot is usually the tired old plastic circuit board on the back of the cluster.

Other than that, dirty or corroded connectors in the engine bay.
1983 Tin Top with a poorly DF and 4 speed DT box.
1987 Electrics and a DJ engine.
Maybe one day I might get it finished

Cataldoodledoo
Registered user
Posts: 58
Joined: 02 Sep 2020, 22:11
80-90 Mem No: 17264
Location: Bristol

Re: Blue/grey wire near stereo and heater switches - what is it?

Post by Cataldoodledoo »

Stesaw wrote: 22 Mar 2021, 13:55 Could be the led thats gone, or it could be wiring. Not sure if a duff sensor would do it either. 

I have a bulb on order, so will check that.
Early 1985 VW T25 1.9 Watercooled

Cataldoodledoo
Registered user
Posts: 58
Joined: 02 Sep 2020, 22:11
80-90 Mem No: 17264
Location: Bristol

Re: Blue/grey wire near stereo and heater switches - what is it?

Post by Cataldoodledoo »

Mocki wrote: 22 Mar 2021, 16:10 Take the brown wire off the main oil pressure switch and connect it to the engine case ( earth it ) if the light lights it’s the sender , if not, it’s either the wire ( check further up the loom for continuity) or possibly the dash , unusual for it to be the actual led , but possible I suppose 

Thanks, will give this a go. What does the main oil pressure switch look like (sorry I’m still learning).
Early 1985 VW T25 1.9 Watercooled

Cataldoodledoo
Registered user
Posts: 58
Joined: 02 Sep 2020, 22:11
80-90 Mem No: 17264
Location: Bristol

Re: Blue/grey wire near stereo and heater switches - what is it?

Post by Cataldoodledoo »

Robsey wrote: 22 Mar 2021, 20:11 I think the weak spot is usually the tired old plastic circuit board on the back of the cluster.

Other than that, dirty or corroded connectors in the engine bay.

I do have a spare wire! Is it the main cluster? Or does it go into the back of the led for the oil?
Early 1985 VW T25 1.9 Watercooled

User avatar
Robsey
Registered user
Posts: 1159
Joined: 19 May 2012, 20:45
80-90 Mem No: 11137
Location: East Manchester

Re: Blue/grey wire near stereo and heater switches - what is it?

Post by Robsey »

The wire to the cluster connector for the oil pressure circuit is blue / black.

But it is often the flexible circuit board that becomes brittle and cracks.
Quite typical for a lot of 80's clusters (for many manufacturers of that era).

So as Mocki said...
Test the sensor first by shorting it's connector in the engine bay to earth.

Then work forwards, checking all connectors along blue / black wire, until you get to the cluster.

To test the led, you could put a fly-lead (temporary wire) between the blue / black wire on the cluster to ground. (With the cluster still plugged in).

If the LED does not light up, then it is the flexible circuit board or the LED.
1983 Tin Top with a poorly DF and 4 speed DT box.
1987 Electrics and a DJ engine.
Maybe one day I might get it finished

Cataldoodledoo
Registered user
Posts: 58
Joined: 02 Sep 2020, 22:11
80-90 Mem No: 17264
Location: Bristol

Re: Blue/grey wire near stereo and heater switches - what is it?

Post by Cataldoodledoo »

Robsey wrote:The wire to the cluster connector for the oil pressure circuit is blue / black.

But it is often the flexible circuit board that becomes brittle and cracks.
Quite typical for a lot of 80's clusters (for many manufacturers of that era).

So as Mocki said...
Test the sensor first by shorting it's connector in the engine bay to earth.

Then work forwards, checking all connectors along blue / black wire, until you get to the cluster.

To test the led, you could put a fly-lead (temporary wire) between the blue / black wire on the cluster to ground. (With the cluster still plugged in).

If the LED does not light up, then it is the flexible circuit board or the LED.
Thank you so much, that really helps. I will test that this week.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Early 1985 VW T25 1.9 Watercooled

chasmac260
Registered user
Posts: 2
Joined: 12 Dec 2019, 23:01
80-90 Mem No: 0

Re: Blue/grey wire near stereo and heater switches - what is it?

Post by chasmac260 »

I’m new on here and am currently struggling through intermittent connections etc whilst I turn my Caravelle into a camper.

Anyhow whilst looking for help, I came across this post. The blue/grey wire you were initially concerned about may be the redundant illumination wire from what would have been connected to your cigarette lighter before a previous owner fitted the USB charger sockets pictured above your original photograph.

I’m in the process of fitting a similar socket which no longer requires that particular wire so I thought that might be your answer.

Cataldoodledoo
Registered user
Posts: 58
Joined: 02 Sep 2020, 22:11
80-90 Mem No: 17264
Location: Bristol

Re: Blue/grey wire near stereo and heater switches - what is it?

Post by Cataldoodledoo »

chasmac260 wrote:I’m new on here and am currently struggling through intermittent connections etc whilst I turn my Caravelle into a camper.

Anyhow whilst looking for help, I came across this post. The blue/grey wire you were initially concerned about may be the redundant illumination wire from what would have been connected to your cigarette lighter before a previous owner fitted the USB charger sockets pictured above your original photograph.

I’m in the process of fitting a similar socket which no longer requires that particular wire so I thought that might be your answer.
Thanks. I still have no idea what it’s for. The heater panel has its illumination, there has never been a cigarette lighter and I put the USB in! Image


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Early 1985 VW T25 1.9 Watercooled

chasmac260
Registered user
Posts: 2
Joined: 12 Dec 2019, 23:01
80-90 Mem No: 0

Re: Blue/grey wire near stereo and heater switches - what is it?

Post by chasmac260 »

Oh well, it was just a thought. I guess you'll have to keep looking!  :?

Cataldoodledoo
Registered user
Posts: 58
Joined: 02 Sep 2020, 22:11
80-90 Mem No: 17264
Location: Bristol

Re: Blue/grey wire near stereo and heater switches - what is it?

Post by Cataldoodledoo »

chasmac260 wrote:Oh well, it was just a thought. I guess you'll have to keep looking!  :?
Yep! Back to the drawing board.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Early 1985 VW T25 1.9 Watercooled

Post Reply