QuestionMark -I'm trying to install an Alpine CD Changer in this vehicle. I have a nice clean copy of the wiring schematic for the Bug and a copy of the installation instructions for the Alpine. My problem is electrical ignorance.
The Alpine instructions tell me to connect the red wire from the Alpine wiring harness to the ignition and the yellow wire from the harness to the battery. (There is a ground also, but I can figure that out.)
There is an open fuse spot on the fuse block that the VW schematic indicates as being reserved for a radio. (radios were dealer options. This car has never had a radio installed). This fuse holder is wired to the headlight switch which is wired to the ignition switch. My guess is that I should attach the red alpine wire ("attach to ignition")to the fuse holder.
That leaves the yellow wire to attach to the battery. Other than splicing 7 or 8 feet of additional wire to this yellow wire and threading it to the battery (battery is under back seat), I don't know how to "attach yellow wire to battery"
I would attach the JPG file of the Bug wiring schematic to this message if I could, but I don't see any way to do that using allexperts mail system.
Any guidance you could give me would be appreciated. Normally I would take a car to an audio shop to have a radio installed, but this car is perfectly restored and I don't want anybody cutting or drilling.
Thanks again,
Tim
AnswerSURE!! I loved those old ones (not a big fan of recent VW stuff though, BAD experiences!) ok, the best advice I can give you is to get a meter. (walmart $18) really all you are looking for is 1 wire that is live all the time (12-12.5 volts or so), even when they key is out, this goes to the yellow wire, so as long as you can find a wire that is always hot you might get away with just hooking the yellow right there.
the other wire (red one they call ignition wire) is hot (12-14 volts or so) when the key is in the "on" or "run" posistion. if you can find these using the meter just hook the cd player to them and you should be good. the cd player will draw a max of 10 amps so if you accidentally tap into something that doesnt support that you may blow a fuse. no big just tap a different wire, preferably with a 15 amp or so fuse on it. radioshack sells these great little crimp things that you just crimp onto a wire and your new wire and it conects them together without cutting or soldering or tape or anything!
to use the meter you just set it to read dc volts, have someone hold the black wire against solid metal in the car and you can freely probe around on any wire until the meter shows you what you're looking for.
Good luck and let me know how it goes!
