Hi Larry and others,

        Not being able to see the Bentley is partly why I rely so much on the folks on this list.  I have a print copy but seldom have a person here able or willing to look at it with me.

        It sounds to me, from the list info,this wire with the warn off insolation is the wire to the dash fuse box.

        I still wonder if when it grounded against the metal it caused either damage to my battery or other components.

When I took out the battery everything seemed to be working normally except the battery itself, and that only indicated bad at the cold cranks when the starter was engaged.

I'm covering up the wire carefully and then adding a pad of rubber against the side of the battery compartment wall. there is a slightly sharp metal weld there that I think somehow lined up just right with the wire and over time rubbed off the insolation. 

I'm just glad I found this in my driveway and not out far from home.

Eric Caron 
85 GL Auto Westfalia 

On Aug 23, 2014, at 7:16 PM, Larry Alofs <lalofs@gmail.com> wrote:

> Eric,
>   I don't know if you have any way of studying the diagrams in the Bentley, but what Neil said is correct.  The smaller of the two wires at the positive battery post leads to the fuse/relay panel in front.  It is unfused to that point.  If it is disconnected there will be no life in any of the accesories, or the ignition and ECU for that matter.
> 
> Larry A.
> 
> 
>