I was looking for a permanent live for my radio and moved the fuse box for access.
I spotted this black wire circled in red, hanging around looking as though it should be connected to the back of the fuse box. Possibly where the red arrow is pointing.
Anyone any idea what it does or where it might go?
That is a million-to-one shot to know exactly what it is for.
Black wire would be ignition live if it was an original VW fit item.
In which case it may go to one of the spade terminals in the "G" block on the back of the fusebox.
But the only true way to know, is to follow the black wire to it's other end.
Your van is around 40 years old, and a previous owner could have added to or updated the loom.
The connector shroud looks 'proper' so may be original VW fit.
Or a previous owner had o.c.d. like me and used original type parts (connectors and shrouds).
Just impossible to say for sure. But it does look familiar from my van re-wiring days three years ago.
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
those switched lives are I think are G in the wiring diagram, if I am wrong disregard everything in this post, also be aware there are often hanging wires coming out of the board, from memory they can be both male or female, mostly yellow housed but they could be clear like the one pictured
Have you identified how it is switched as those G connections are switched by other things, for example D+ from alternator, track 61 going to the bod circuit is twinned to A16 which commons inside the board to G4 amongst others, so that is for ancillaries that requires that specific D+ signal, but there may be nothing ever fitted to our vans that could use that, but a Golf (or any other vehicle fitted with this board) might, or it could be someone who really knew what they were doing and fitted an aftermarket rev counter, for example, might make up a loom to take the signal at the board for example rather than cutting into the 14 pin plug wiring
The only G connection I can see populated on the basic 1987 wbx diagram in Bentley is G1 which should be a black yellow 1.5mm wire and is part of the aircon system, in later vehicles also twinned to a single connector that would be hanging behind the fuseboard for something else unknown.
Without a bit more info trawling through Bentley to look at all the connections is very time consuming, the diagrams on Syncrosport may be more useful as I think from UK dealer manuals so more rhd UK market specific
Do you have any additional fuseholders either above or below the main board or any additional relays above the board
What optional stuff is fitted, eg power mirrors, electric windows etc...or has been fitted previously and removed ?
Is anything not working ?
Other than that it is follow the wire as previously suggested or at least identifying which loom it goes into, eg front lights, rear lights, dash, back to front, wiper motor, radio, difflock etc. will help
Thanks to all who commented here. After a bit of investigation it turns out to be the black wire for the handbrake warning light and brake fluid level.
Reading the wiring diagrams it should attach to G5 but I have a black and yellow wire attached there but I don’t have a rear heater or aircon.
So I’ve a bit more digging to do. Might be a moot point as all seems to work with the black wire attached to G1. I guess it may be running through the wrong fuse though.
