Vintage Speedster---which fuses are what?

Anyone know? I can figure it out by the process of eliminatio, but wonder if anyone knows which fuses on a VS work with what? Thanks!!---Jack

Just a suggestion, check this link out:
http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=106056&highlight=conversion

Be sure to check the lower page "margin" info as it might provide model/year info which may speed up your search.

Also, based on your chassis year of manufacture this will be helpful:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/wiringt1.php

(Assuming a VW-based platform)

Scott--great stuff and thanks. I printed it all out to save for future reference. I am pretty sure that a VS is quite different from a standard VW Bug and that Vintage has some set up all their own.

I am trying to get a simple list for my Vintage Speedster such as:
"From Drivers side to Passengers side fuses:"

#1 Horn
#2 Lights
#3 etc

I can just pull each fuse and see what stopped working but thought if anyone has already done this they could share the info. Maybe email Kirk too.

I will post the results I get for anyone who needs the same info.

I'll give it a couple of more days to see if anyone responds to this since my car is in the paint shop now.

Thanks again, Scott----Jack

Jack, you might consider smart glow fuses if they will work in your application. You would have to shop around to find them at a reasonable price but they are kind of neat in that they glow when working (I think that's how they work) so you don't have to hunt and peck in some contortioned position to find the right one.

Steve O'Brien installed them in his Cabrio and I would too, but just haven't gotten around to it.
Hoss

Jack-glad to help. There are lots of wiring diagrams around, the best being the older ones in color. Tracing wire runs can be interesting; print out a diagram that most closely represents your functional layout, mark it up (with corresponding locations on the car w/ masking tape/Sharpie marker). When you still have questions you can scan the mark-up and e-mail it to your vendor. "Talking paper" works wonders when you are trying to figure these things out via e-mail and/or phone.

So none of you Vintage owners know what fuse is for what?? Daang.

I'll just get under that dash and figure it out and will post the results here.

Better to know what's what ahead of time I think!


---Jack

And that is why I made my own dang wiring diagrams using PowerPoint!

Gee, it seems like there would be some standardization from vintage.

Its so much fun under the dash! Speedster yoga, contortionist says it all.

Dave

" Dash sex "

The heck with dash sex. When i installed my fuse box i cut a place in the trunk side of the cab and flipped the the fuse assembley over. and now all you have to do is pop the hood remove a cover and check the GM style fuses.

Guys think outside the box . I would like to have second one on the passager side to put my other extra.s on. Bu until now didn't have time to do much. Now I have the time but I'm afraid to spend much.

(Lay Off)

So that got me to thinkin', and I dug around in some tote boxes I use for moving stuff from one house to the other and, son-of-a-gun! I found my notebook!

Now I just have to edit the wiring diagrams I got from Dave Klipfel and we're lookin' just like a Factory Job!! I can even add them to my ever thicker CMC manual, now customized for MY car.

Your turn, Jack!

Barry:

I did the same as you, but I made up my entire wiring harness from scratch (never do THAT again..). I was wandering through a junk yard one day and saw a Sterling with the hood open and there was a really nice fuse/relay panel: 5 BIG fuse links, 12 tab fuses and six relay positions. Perfect. And it has a plastic cover, and it wasn't even Lucas! It says Robert Bosch on the back side! Clipped that puppy out and it's now sitting under the hood in my car, all wired into my system.

Unfortunately, I STILL have the same problem as Jack - don't remember what the heck the fuses are for!!!! Somewhere... I have a little green notebook with notes in it, partial wiring diagrams I made as I went along, wire colors, fuse positions, relay functions, everything. If only I could even remember in which house I left it....

Damned older memory!!

gn

Jack ,,Make you a booklet to leave in the fuse cover. or as I did i got it peeled an stuck in my 356 car panplet. Use it to refresh your memory.

Let the car set and Idle while you pull one fuse at a time and writing down what they have on them ,as you go.

Then your set from then on. It's worth the 10 minutes to do it.

OK, so I went out and did that.

Pulled the very first fuse and the engine died.

Always good to know that.

Remembered that I actually have separate fuses for high beam and low beam in each headlight (yes, that's four fuses, just for the headlights).

Later, pulled the very first relay and the engine died.

I'm beginning to see a trend, here......

;>(

Jack - is the fuse panel those old ceramic VW fuses with a black junction box and cover - maybe 6 or 8 fuses? Post a photo. I'm surprised the owners manual posted here doesn't have page for that - OH, it only has 5 pages total. If so the drawing maybe Dave did will match - I have copy of drawing that came with old VS wiring kit that I think was identical but not as pretty. I dispise those old ceramic fuses - just not very reliable exposed like they are.

Jack, have you contacted VS re: your electrical questions? From what I gather here on SOC, VS will bend over backwards to accomodate VS owners. All they might need should be model, year, equipment, plus a physical description of your fuse box. (They possibly may have used a generic VW wiring scheme, and through iteration, evolved it into a standard VS version-I make reference to the previous links I sent you). Anyway, they should be able to provide a hard-copy or an e-mail attachment to print out.

Scott:

We usually find exactly what you describe: The VS folks have all this information and are more than helpful in providing it to you. No question.

But it's always more interesting to ask on here first, just to see the myriad of responses you get until someone says: "Gee, why don't you just contact Kirk at VS?"

duh........

Some people just think more than the rest of us.

;>)

gn

I just think calling the builder years after he built something - especially if you are not the original owner - is epecting alot. Kirk and Carey do always come through though. They need to offer an extended technical support plan or a 1-900 #. I think you'll find many of the answer have already been addressed here. The SEARCH option is really valuable on this site --- not so on other sites I visit.

Gordon-It is most certainly more fun and educational to see how everyone else has come up with solutions to their unique problem, be it a VS-specific or other manufacturer's one. Since, I had previously provided a link to a forum (VW) which has a ton of electrical information, and, since I sensed some frustration, I was merely being "common-sensical" about his particular needs. So Jack, be nimble will ya (?).
Add Wolfgang-Based on what others have said about VS support, I get a sense that it is for PRECISELY this reason that the first call should be made to this manufacturer; whether you are the first or subsequent owner shouldn't create a huge hoop to jump through, especially since Vintage seems to have a 5-star support rating. They care about what they put out on the street and the owners who own them. Stop and think just how bad customer service has become elsewhere, and how few people-oriented shops there are out there.

I emailed Kirk yesterday and know he'll get back to me. I would do this by "trial and error" but my car is in the paint shop getting color sanded and buffed. I checked on it late yesterday and it was spectacular. I will post some after pix here later plus will report back on the fuse deal.

Thanks to all for the great support here--it makes the "madness" manageable!---Jack

Jack-can't imagine your anticipation here. You will have virtually a new car! When you have gotten all the issues addressed, do a write-up or a pix-post and add it to the knowledge section (or most appropriate location on this site) and also see if VS can post some generic info or include this information on their site with their required "caveats" of course! Win-win!

Scott--yep I'll post some pix of the paint asap.

If I was going to order another car I would pay for the preparation that is done for a black color--I think It's another $500 or so. I also would have it color sanded and buffed as that really makes a nice finish.

I have thought about accepting various invitations to show my car in local car shows but was embarased about the paint but now I don't mind a bit as the finish is now show quality---almost.

---Jack

I just heard back from Kirk who gave me the info on which fuses work what on a Vintage Speedster. I told him that my car was made in March, 2007 and below is what he responded. I don't know if every year Vintage made Speedsters is like this but would bet that it is likely.

Anyway, from the driver's side door going to the passenger side:

#1 Brake lights
#2 Lights
#3 turn signal flasher
#4 Horn & Wipers
#5 High beam
#6 Low beam

So--better to know today so if your lights go out, just grab the burnt out fuse from #2 and stick another one in. Beats "trial and error" in the dark of the night!

The next step is to add the fuse values to this list and be sure to have all values the car uses on board.

I hope this helps you Vintage owners!---Jack

PS---and thanks to Kirk Duncan of Vintage Speedsters for this info. Kirk always provides nice support for a wonderful car!---Jack

Thats good news. As a matter of good practice I would advise you confirm the locations by r/r each one; advisable if you are not the original owner, anyway. Also, without seeming so a**l retentive, find picture of the fuse box/fuses (ref. the diagrams you had printed out), print out + mark-up all known locations. (I did this when I restored my old Westphalia; printed info out on "card stock" then had it laminated in plastic for water resistance) I know, perhaps over the top - but it came in handy and I didn't have to fumble around at the most inconvenient time! In the dark! Holding a match!

Assume the (#2 Lights) are dash, park and tail lights.

Scott--right r/r as the values are checked.

Alan--Surely you are correct---the note from Kirk says only "lights". Again I'll confirm what you added as I check the values.

Thanks ---Jack

Mine is a little different but not much of course 2&3 are a varied a schose 2 is running lights. and turn signals I upped the fuse to a 30 also to cover them.

3 is fuel pump ,wipers, horn. and radio main .radio has 2 fuses the main 30 and a 10 right at it.

Other wise they are the same.

Barry-I'm not an auto electrician, but if you "up" the value of a particular fuse should the wires in that circuit also be of higher value? (ie, gauge of wire)
Thanks, Scott

Scott: Usually, yes. Higher fuse current capacity usually necessitates heavier gauge wire to also handle the current. The real question to ask is what is the load on the other end of the wire and is the fuse (and wires) sized correctly for that load?

But getting back to Jack....no where on your list do I see "ignition".

Should I assume that the ignition circuit and starter, (and, arguably, one of the more important circuits in your car) is un-fused or is it grouped with another, listed, function??

For instance, stock VW's around 1970 had the ignition on fuse #2 from the left, which was ganged with fuse #1 which then went to the brake lights, horn and a few other things.

It might be useful to have your car running when you're pulling fuses to see which one affects the ignition. Always good to know that one....

gn

Thanks Gordon
Scott

Gordon---yep--you discovered a few questions about my "answer". I will just pull 'em and see what stops working.

"work in progress"---no kidding!--Jack

VS diagram shows "black 16ga. wire" from ing. coil + to top of #3 fuse. and continues to "Ign. on" Ing. Switch.
I'm thinking that since it is attached to the top of the fuse block then continues as a jumper over to the ignition siwtch, it may not fused, I would have to crawl under a VS dash to be sure though. ~Alan

Alan---where do you see a VS fuse diagram? I have never seen one.
Is it in the knowledge section here?

Kirk just said that #3 was ignition and radio. When he emailed me yesterday he had abbreviated ignition as "ing" rather than IGN and I missed it.

Tell me about that diagram! Thanks---Jack

Jack email me a fax number, what I have is the wiring diagram showing the fuse block.. I'll fax it to you. drclock AT pa.net

Hi Jack-Following up on the fuse/wiring issue. If there's anything to post regarding your findings, please do share. I like to contribute but am I'm a learning mode as well!
No hurry! Thanks in advance, Scott
PS: Happy Valentines to all the family; better get on down to the candy store (no, not the one with all the 356 goodies in the window)

Hi Scott--I posted the results above on 2/9 soscroll up and check that. There was an addition to that list though and it is that #3 is also the ignition and the radio.

I still have to pull the fuses to get the fuse values to be sure I carry the right ones and I'll double check the fuses to be sure what's what.---Jack