Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
VanagonEuroVan
Subject:Re: Installing an after market radio?
From:neil N
Date:Fri, 31 Aug 2007 19:34:01 -0700

P 97.64 of Bentley shows fuse 9 as "Radio Conn".

This for "water-cooled Digijet 1985"

Cheers,

Neil.

On 8/31/07, Mike S <mikes@flatsurface.com> wrote:
> At 08:33 PM 8/31/2007, James AYRES wrote...
> >I have bought an after market radio in my 1985 Vanagon that came with
> >a
> >factory cassette player and am puzzled how to hook up the ACC line
> >from the
> >new radio.
>
> When on, the radio will draw almost all of its power from the battery
> (constant power) lead. From your question, it appears you've already
> identified a suitable source for that. The ACC lead just signals the
> radio that the car is turned on, and turns the stereo on
> simultaneously. It doesn't really draw very much power at all. Use a
> meter to find a fuse which has power with the ignition on, but none
> with it off. You might also want to check if it has power when starting
> - some circuits are powered through a load reduction relay which cuts
> power when starting. That can be hard on a stereo.
>
> Some of the fuses may have empty spade (AKA "quick disconnects")
> connectors in back to which you can hook. If you can't find one of
> those, Radio Shack sells special spade fittings which will add a tap to
> an existing one (
> http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103503 ). Less
> preferable would be to use a tap connector (like those commonly used to
> connect trailer wiring) to tap into an existing wire.
>
> I don't know for sure on an '85, but on an '81, fuse 12 is ACC
> switched, powers the horn, and isn't cut off by the load reduction
> relay.
>

--
Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia -
"Jaco"  (Bustorius)

http://web.mac.com/tubaneil

Please send me your Vanagon/Westfalia links!
http://vanagonlinks.googlepages.com/home

Have something to add on this topic today? Revive this thread in the forum »