Jay,
I have a 97 Golf.  The small brown/red is a switched ground (to
ignition-controlled relay).  I believe you can leave it out, and be
always hot/always grounded.  Your small brown/red wire should be a
smaller gauge than all the speaker wiring.  The other brown/white is
probably a speaker negative.  The big brown is the primary ground.

Best,
Isaac Taylor
Cambridge, Massachusetts

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jay L Snyder" <Jay.L.Snyder@USA.DUPONT.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2001 8:11 AM
Subject: '97 VW Stereo Install

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