Sam,

One reply mentioned the common ground wiring issue.

There was a substantial amount of discussion a few months ago about when
the use of common ground wiring ended

I can't remember the answer right now and the break year was around 86
or 87.  My 85 has it, and my 89 doesn't. But others chimed in and I
think it was resolved as to what year VW made the change.

Check the archives for common ground in the last year  - that should get
you the answer to that issue.  You can also just look at your rear
speakers.  If the ground wire from one of them goes and merges with the
ground wire of the other, then it is common ground and you can't run
modern stereo with that.  It will kill the radio is my understanding.

If you have common ground, the installer should have noticed it because
there would have only been one ground wire from the rear, not two.

There is some possibility that a PO put in some modifications to the system.

Sam

--
Sam Walters
Baltimore, MD

89 Syncro GL
85 Westy Weekender
84 Vanagon, original owner, soon to be retired, just too many problems

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