Wiring Harness Question!

[Lew]

These are pictures of the wiring harness and the Test network central plug connector I eliminated. This bundle of wires I cut away from the central plug goes somewhere, I'm just not sure where. I would like them out. Any ideas!

[Stray Catalyst]

Easiest just to tape them off. As nobody you're likely to have working on your car will have the old VW diagnostic stuff, that plug isn't going to make much difference. VW used those for a few years (73 and 74, if I remember correctly) but it's rare to find a car that hasn't had them cut off.

[Marc]

Each wire to the diagnostic plug originates at one of the orange circles on this diagram.
No biggy to simply tape them off if you don't feel like snipping each one out, but I would recommend that you at least disconnect the big red one from the + terminal of the starter - a hot wire like that could cause big trouble if it shorts out someday, so if it serves no purpose you may as well kill it.

[Lew]

The wiring diagram I have posted has been modified to show the wires that are attached to my starter. Maybe I can find where the bundle of wires I cut end.

[Marc]

The wiring diagram I have posted has been modified to show only the wires that are attached to my starter. Maybe I can find where the bundle of wires I cut end.

Is that supposed to read "the only wires that are attached to my starter"? At one time there should've been two diagnostic wires also, one to the B+ stud and one to an extra push-on terminal on the solenoid. If they've already been removed you have nothing to worry about.
The other wires all go off to various points on the car, IMO it's more trouble than it's worth to remove them unless their presence really bothers you.

[Daniel G]

I have always wondered if anyone has run some additional circuits on the extra wires..I mean they are there already so why not use them for something?

[Chris V]

When we had a generator in Dad's `77 the voltage-drop from the regulator mounted in the engine bay to the front of the car was terrible...so I installed a diagnostic wire to the starter as a parallel B+ wire from the regulator - it helped a great deal. Left the parallel wire in there even when it received an alternator again.

If you can do either of these, I'd recommend it.

[Marc]

Easily accessible place to break out the tail, brake, and t'signal lights if you tow a trailer, or if you want to add a third brakelight.
There are also small wires from the area under the back seat which can be tied into for guages so you don't have to pull wires into the engine compartment.

[david58]

Go to Speedys Link for detailed info
http://www.nls.net/mp/volks/htm/plug.htm
Great info Thanks Speedy Jim

[Lew]

I have been successful in finding three diagnostic wires ending points using my ohm meter. They have been removed. In finding the other locations, I plan on leaving in a few test wires for future connections if needed. With a couple of additional switches in the dash, and a Radio, I will use the special colored wires and add them to my wiring diagram. Thanks David for the link to the diagnostic socket. A big help!