I don't know about your harness, but my 85 (with VW "Stereo Prep" from the
dealer) had a significant problem.  The rear speaker wires had a common
ground, as in, there were only three wires going to the rear speakers.  I
have had 5, I think, stereos in the van over the last 16 years, and several
of them were unhappy with this arrangement.

At first I actually installed the stereo sideways (sonically speaking) with
the front speakers standing in as the left channel and the rear speakers as
the right.  Later stereos seemed to deal with the common ground just fine,
and I installed them properly.  For my most recent stereo, again unhappy with
the wiring arrangement, I went ahead and installed a new speaker wire running
from dash to rear spoeakers. I was able to snake it through the A pillar,
front headliner, and then fresh-air vent on passenger side back to the a/c-
speaker unit area.  I guess it took me about 45 minutes in all.

Maybe a later wiring harness has 4 wires going to rear speakers, but I'm sure
that cost vw a pretty penny for all that extra copper. ;-)

Peter & Zippy (no longer sonically sideways)

In a message dated 10/16/01 8:18:27 AM, Jay.L.Snyder@USA.DUPONT.COM writes:

<< I am looking at the power wire harness for the '97 VW stereo that is going
into my '85 Westy.  Is has a large red/white wire, a large brown wire, a
small grey/blue wire, a small brown/white and a small brown/red.  The large
red is 12VDC always hot.  The large brown is ground.  The grey/blue is the
dimmer (instrument light) supply.  The other two small brown wires I am not
sure.  I believe one is for the amplied antenna and the other for ?  Maybe
ground for antenna?  Can anyone verify this info?  The harness was picked
up at a junkyard and came out of a '97 Golf, identical to the stereo donor
car (my son's '97 K2).
Any help appreciated.  I will be installing tonight.  By the way, it fits
perfectly into the dash.  You do need the DIN style antenna, or an adapter
(which is what I am using).

                                                             Jay
 >>