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Mobile auto electrician for 64 Beetle
64blackbettle - September 12th, 2013 at 02:29 PM

Hi everyone, I need an Auto Elect to wire up my 64 Beetle. I've wired up the lights and engine bay but need an Auto Elect to finish off the dash and wire up the key switch cause I'm not confident doing it myself.

I'm in Preston Melbourne. If anyone has a contact they could pass on that would be a great help.

my mobile is zero four one eight one double three five eight zero.
Thanks Dom


Klaus - September 12th, 2013 at 04:12 PM

Print off the wiring diagrams off the samba as if its still all orig wiring its colour coded and easy


68AutoBug - September 12th, 2013 at 09:33 PM

hopefully someone who lives nearby could help You sort the wiring out

anyone with VW wiring experience would be better than an auto electrician

most know nothing of early cars and their wiring...

Maybe a car club could point You in the right direction..

LEE


vwo60 - September 12th, 2013 at 10:32 PM

It is the simplest wiring you can get, every auto electrician learnt this in his first year. as sugested either print the wiring diagram of the samba or aquire a manual so if you get a auto electrician to do the job you already have the information.


waveman1500 - September 12th, 2013 at 11:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by 68AutoBug
anyone with VW wiring experience would be better than an auto electrician


Lee, this is completely ridiculous! As VW060 says, there is nothing special or unique about VW wiring, any qualified auto electrician will immediately know what's going on just by looking at the car. I got a mobile auto electrician to help sort my Beetle out and he was excellent. He didn't want to see any wiring diagrams, said that he preferred to check what was going on for himself. This is actually probably the best approach, since most 40 year old cars have had their wiring messed with anyway. A standard Beetle only has about two relays in it and no transistors, so if an auto electrician couldn't work that out then he would be completely lost on a modern car!


vwo60 - September 13th, 2013 at 07:03 AM

If you have the information on hand and the cars wiring is in the condition as shown in the photos it would wise to be prepaired, otherwise the electrian has no idea of what goes were and will have to trace each wire through the car individually increasing the cost of the job. everybody should invest in a manual.


vw54 - September 13th, 2013 at 07:22 AM

yep buy a manual with colour code drawing very simple


Aussie Dubbin - September 13th, 2013 at 07:58 AM

Really simple design once you can read the wiring diagram. Print one off and colour in the main lines. You will see there is a main core front to rear, but not heaps after that.


64blackbettle - September 13th, 2013 at 12:19 PM

thanks everyone. All the original wires are there and coloured correctly. The main harness has been cut short as the previous owner did a butcher job on the wiring. See PIC

I want to get the car started as a minimum so can I just connect the 3 wires from the engine bay directly to the ignition switch? That is the Black from the coil, Red from the starter and the other Red from the voltage regulator? Do i need to fuss these wires as I assume they run unfussed.

I've also attached a copy of the wiring diagram I downloaded from The Samba. Will this work or do I need an AU diagram?


vwo60 - September 13th, 2013 at 09:16 PM

that will get you out of trouble, the starter and ignition system on the older cars are unfused


64blackbettle - September 14th, 2013 at 07:35 AM

I'm determined to get it started today. Wish me luck. I've also just received a copy of the wiring DVD by bugmevideo. They make it look very easy. I'll go through it again today a follow their instructions and will let you know how I go.


64blackbettle - September 14th, 2013 at 02:52 PM

The battery is fully charged.

1. black wire from the 15/54 terminal on the key is connected to the coil;
2. Red wire from the 30 terminal on the key switch is connected to the positive (or the nut connection) on the starter;
3. The positive (or the nut connection) on the starter runs to the positive on the battery;
4. Red wire from the 50 terminal on the key switch is connected to a push on connector on the starter.

Battery positive and negative terminals connected, turned the key switch and "donuts." Absolutely nothing happened. Not even a spark.

Am I missing something? HELP!


vwo60 - September 14th, 2013 at 08:25 PM

Do you have a test light, test that you have power at the ignition switch from the battery, turn the key and check you have power at the coil, turn the key to the strat position and check that you have power to the solinoid on the starter, do you have a good earth to the chassis from the battery, and then to the gearbox, remember the engine is on rubber mounts, check that it has a earth strap at the front of the gearbox back to the mount, if the ignition switch does not supply power to the solinoid you could try shorting out the two terminals on the starter.


64blackbettle - September 15th, 2013 at 05:40 PM

There was no power at the 50 terminal on the starter so I've taken the starter out and tested the starter with a set of jump leads and sure enough its completely dead. I'll take it to an auto elect tomorrow to confirm. Hopefully its the starter outhrwise its back the drawing board.


vwo60 - September 15th, 2013 at 06:45 PM

No power to 50 would indicate that the switch is not working, it only supplies power to 50 when you turn the key to start the engine, did you make sure it had a good earth. have you checked the supply to the ignition switch with a test light, then test the switch at 50 when you turn the key.


64blackbettle - September 15th, 2013 at 09:38 PM

I did put the test light on the 50 terminal and turned the switch but no power. I tried to jump the starter while out of the car and again no power. I might take the switch to the auto elect tomorrow as well and have it tested.


64blackbettle - September 16th, 2013 at 09:51 AM

Just back from the auto elect and the starter is Ok the key switch is ok but the battery is no good hence the reason why the starter wasn't working. I'll hook it up and hopefully it starts.


vwo60 - September 16th, 2013 at 11:33 AM

Thats good news, first turn of the key.


64blackbettle - September 17th, 2013 at 10:34 PM

Got a new battery and bolted in the starter and hooked up the wiring. Jumped in the car closed the door, adjusted the mirrors, seats and wound down the window. Why, why not. Foot on the clutch and made sure the gear was in neutral about 20 times then put the key in the switch. First turn was a click and nothing......which was expected and then another turn and the engine cranked over. Wow what a feeling. Cranked it again and again. About 6 or 7 times to get the fuel into the lines and carbie. Then one final turn and noise. The sweet sound of a 1500 single port with a weber and a sports exhaust system. Not the standard VW sound but a very sweet purr.

There's something about starting an engine that has been sitting around for a while.

Big thanks to everyone on the forum for your input, help and advise. What did we do before the Internet.

Now to finish the wiring and put the windows in which are proving to be difficult due to the new non German rubbers.


68AutoBug - September 17th, 2013 at 11:01 PM

Great News

Now the windows will test You out.. lol

LEE