I have a burnt wire on a 73 bug.It comes out of the last post on the right hand side of the fuse box (if your looking at it from the front) then runs down to the engine bay.It over to the drivers side. it looks like it might have been gray with red about every 25mm.Can anyone tell me what its for??? I have a few photos but not very clear

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiring/73-up111wiring.jpg 

Not being an auto electricen, I go NF idea what that all ment

License plate light ...... If I'm reading the wiring diagram in the Bentley manual correctly.

Cheers for that, Ill check that one out tomorrow. Dont need that one ill just disconect it..

Also the right rear tail light.

It's been a dead short that has done that, make sure someone hasn't fitted a 40000000amp fuse in there or worse yet a screw, fencing wire etc, should be a red 16amp fuse.
The fuse should have blown to prevent the wiring melting like that.

The usual trick people do that causes this problem is getting the 2 number plate wires on the decklid arse about or the 68 onward lights have a contact inside that is prone to earth out on the metal housing.

what have u bought now

the grey wiring is the parking light system so u have a short maybe in the switch as its on the top side of the fuse

the wires must be touching the body work


the yellow is low beam

and the white is high beam

I had a '68 when I was 18 ....... many years ago. Didn't think it was an issue driving it with no screws holding the fuse box in place. Went over a bump, fuse box shorted out on body. Toxic smoke turned the car into a still rolling gas chamber. Melted the lot into a blob of copper and plastic. Lesson learnt.

That kind of damage usually happens when the positive ignition wire is grounded, that is the wire that goes to the ignition coil.

It looks like from the position of the wire on the fuse box that that may be the ignition wire

Looking at the diagram again, it does look like it is the number plate light from the color and positioning of the wire on the fuse box.

thats 2 for the number plate!!! Thanks for the help guys

It is.

And looking at those extra wires that are chopped off and wrapped in electrical tape looks like it;s had a tow bar and socket wired up in a past life
Makes sure the tail light one where its cut off isn;t exposed and grounding out on something.

Holy s#@t I think I might have been the 'helper' instead of the 'helpee' for a change!!!!

that wire is both the right rear light and the licence plate light. The Grey/black to the left is the left side rear light.