Unknown Wire

Come here to ask for technical help and advice
Post Reply
User avatar
KLiff
Posts: 35
Joined: 28th October 2011 - 10:06am

Unknown Wire

Post by KLiff » 28th October 2020 - 5:07pm

Can anyone shed some light on an issue for me please: I noticed a wire hanging down underneath my car, by the front axle so took my 1968 1600 L squareback to my local garage. After some fiddling he managed to trace the wire up into the front boot; it came through just by the windscreen fluid reservoir and went along the bulkhead under the boot card to a black cuboid box coupling which had two square plate connector pins. The wire then continued left and disappeared through to the dashboard (in the top left corner of the boot, uk drivers side). The mechanic tested the wire under the car and it was not live.

I had the car restored about 10 years ago and a new wiring loom was installed. This cable is original (according to my mechanic). Does anyone know what is is for - where it leads back to and what it was attached to under the car originally?

Kevin

07799530037

User avatar
Dave Summers
Posts: 175
Joined: 9th May 2007 - 8:10pm
Location: Culloden, Inverness

Re: Unknown Wire

Post by Dave Summers » 28th October 2020 - 9:21pm

What colour is the wire? All VW original wiring is colour-coded which should make it easier to identify.
Dave
412 Variant
411 2-door saloon

User avatar
KLiff
Posts: 35
Joined: 28th October 2011 - 10:06am

Re: Unknown Wire

Post by KLiff » 29th October 2020 - 9:49am

Black and red

User avatar
purplepeter
Posts: 2338
Joined: 8th August 2006 - 4:41pm
Location: Bath, Avon

Re: Unknown Wire

Post by purplepeter » 29th October 2020 - 11:40am

Does the Horn still work? -That's the only wire You'd expect in that area- Horn would normally be Black/yellow, but maybe the new loom used a different colour?

Wiring diagram is here: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/in ... 3_6870.jpg

User avatar
Rob 400e
Posts: 241
Joined: 5th August 2017 - 2:21pm
Location: Burnley

Re: Unknown Wire

Post by Rob 400e » 29th October 2020 - 10:08pm

The wiring to my brake switch on my bug is red/black nothing else to offer other than that.
Type 411 Le four door auto .

User avatar
broady_6
Posts: 2904
Joined: 13th January 2009 - 8:55pm

Re: Unknown Wire

Post by broady_6 » 31st October 2020 - 6:21pm

Black and red is Brake lights on a factory wiring loom. As has been said the only wires that should be in that should be in that area are for the horn. 1 Black and yelow, the other brown.
The sultan of swing

User avatar
KLiff
Posts: 35
Joined: 28th October 2011 - 10:06am

Re: Unknown Wire

Post by KLiff » 3rd November 2020 - 4:38pm

Yes - the horn still works.

User avatar
purplepeter
Posts: 2338
Joined: 8th August 2006 - 4:41pm
Location: Bath, Avon

Re: Unknown Wire

Post by purplepeter » 3rd November 2020 - 10:40pm

Brake lights working?

User avatar
broady_6
Posts: 2904
Joined: 13th January 2009 - 8:55pm

Re: Unknown Wire

Post by broady_6 » 3rd November 2020 - 11:49pm

Could be dual circuit brakes with two switches? Or a switch removed and that's resulted in redundant wires wandering off?
The sultan of swing

User avatar
KLiff
Posts: 35
Joined: 28th October 2011 - 10:06am

Re: Unknown Wire

Post by KLiff » 11th November 2020 - 2:31pm

Everything's working. I'm going to have to assume that it is part of the original wiring-loom, somehow and for some reason misplaced.

Thanks for you comments,

Kevin

User avatar
broady_6
Posts: 2904
Joined: 13th January 2009 - 8:55pm

Re: Unknown Wire

Post by broady_6 » 11th November 2020 - 6:00pm

Dual circuit brakes had two brake light switches, so its entirely possible one is disconnected and the brakes lights will still work.
The sultan of swing

Post Reply