As best I know the late model Vanagons do not have common grounds on
the speakers. 8 wires for 4 speakers is correct.

On Oct 24, 2006, at 11:15 AM, Jesse Reynolds wrote:

> Hi folks,
>
> I am new to the list, and new to the water-cooled VW vans. (I owned
> a 76
> for years.)  I recently got an 1986 Westy, and I am upgrading the
> stereo. I can't figure out the speaker wiring, partially because I am
> not 100% sure that all the speakers work.
>
> Does anyone have knowledge of the speaker wire colors? The speakers
> don't seem to be on the Bentley book's wiring diagram. I do know
> that on
> most 80's vans, the rear speakers shared a common negative, and that
> needs to be re-wired for most after market stereos.
>
> A cable wrapped in black comes off the original stereo. Inside it is a
> twist of copper strands, a red wire, a brown wire, and two cables with
> still more wires inside: there is a gray cable with a twist of
> aluminum
> strands, a blue wire, and a green wire, and there is a  white cable
> with
> a twist of aluminum strands, a white wire, and a yellow wire.
>
> What stumps me is this: 4 speakers = 8 wires. If the rear uses a
> common
> ground, that is 7 wires. But there are 6 wires not including the loose
> strands, and 9 if they are included.
>
> Any help is appreciated - thanks in advance!
>
> - Jesse