Electrical
Minor Harnesses
Okay, I lied, there are more then the “main three” harnesses. These “minor harnesses” include the Starter Harness, Backup Light Harness, Test Connector Harness (we’ll cover this in it’s own section), Battery Harness, Fuel Gauge Harness, Fan Motor Harness and Wiper Harness.
Starter Harness
The Starter Harness runs from under the rear seat, routes out right above fuel line and into the Engine Compartment. It consists of two wires, which break out like this:
| Wire Color | Function | Harness Side | Fusebox / Dash Side |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large Red | Starter Start | Starter | Single Connector Rear Seat |
| Red / Black |
Rear Wiring Harness
The rear harness is much harder to replace because of the tight bend required to route it into the engine bay through the driver’s side quarter panel. People will chop off the test connector wires, sometimes, but that usually does not effect the operation of the car. I always see the ends that connect to the generator being pretty menke. Sometimes these wires have been chopped so much that they barely reach their destination.
Front Wiring Harness
The front wiring harness is fairly easy to interchange, and many parts suppliers provide fronts for many years of Beetle, minus the 1973 Super Beetle, of course. I chose to remove the harness when painting the body, then re-installed it afterwords. Someone painted over the harness in the past, so I know exactly where it clamped prior to restoration.