Stereo wiring info. request

[sixsracing]

Hey guys,

Been awhile, I am still alive and have purchased a replacement for my beloved 1990 Cabby.....a 1991, same color and everything. I hate red. Whatever.

I would like to swap my Kenwood CD player into the new one. This vehicle has the amplified front speakers. Anybody have any idea which wires at dash are for which speakers?

Yes, I have a Bentley, no the Bentley doesn't specify.

Hope to hear from somebody soonand thanks in advance.

Steve

[Briano1234]

Use the pages for the Stereo Radio with 6 amplified Speakers. Cabriolet from 1991 pages 1 0f 2 and 2 of 2.

[sixsracing]

Thanks Brian,

Here's the problem with that, those pages do not specifically outline which wire is positive or negative for which speaker. Bentley shows 10 wires going to each front speaker. Fine, narrowed it down to somewhere between 4-6 wires are speaker wires, still don't know what goes to what. There are also 2 wires that are common to both sides of the speaker wiring, white/blue and red/black. I would like to retain the amplifiers so I need some clarification.

Thanks for responding so quick.

Steve

[Briano1234]

How about a picture:

[sixsracing]

I saw that on another forum, mine has been burned off. Looks to me like there are four positive speaker wires and one common ground. Interesting. Going to try that as soon as I get a minute.

Thanks,

Steve

[Calimus]

holy hell, glad to see your still alive man.

[sixsracing]

Thanks Calimus.....now, How do I wire up this stereo?

Followed the wiring diagram for the speakers from the picture Brian posted.

Nuttin'

Gonna play some more tomorrow hopefully.

[Calimus]

Never messed with the factory amplified system.

I found this, does it look like it might be what you need?

1991 Volkswagen Cabriolet Car Radio Stereo Wiring Diagram

Car Radio Battery Constant 12v+ Wire: Red
Car Radio Accessory Switched 12v+ Wire: The radio harness does not provide a switched power source. Run a wire to the fusebox for switched power.
Car Radio Ground Wire: Brown
Car Radio Illumination Wire: Blue/Gray
Car Stereo Dimmer Wire: N/A
Car Stereo Antenna Trigger: Blue
Car Stereo Amp Trigger Wire: N/A
Car Stereo Amplifier Location: N/A
Car Audio Front Speakers Size: N/A
Car Audio Front Speakers Location: N/A
Left Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Blue
Left Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Brown/Blue
Right Front Speaker Positive Wire (+): Red/Black
Right Front Speaker Negative Wire (-): Brown/White
Car Audio Rear Speakers Size: N/A
Car Audio Rear Speakers Location: N/A
Left Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Blue/Green
Left Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Brown/Red
Right Rear Speaker Positive Wire (+): Red/Green
Right Rear Speaker Negative Wire (-): Brown/Black

Found it here - http://www.modifiedlife.com/1991-volksw ... g-diagram/

[sixsracing]

Hey thanks for looking! I did find that, unfortunately it is for the passive six speaker system. So I took matters into my own hands. Never a good thing. I was baffled by the two common wires for both sides of the system. Plugged the old VW head unti in and found that the w/bl wire was switched power from the radio and the r/bk wire was switched negative. Made the necessary changes and still nothing. So I decided the speaker grounds could not all be connected together seeing as I had no output from the Kenwood unit. I cut all the grounds.

Nearly blew me out of the car cause I had the volume at maximum and the unit powered up when I cut the grounds. WOW!

Long story for a short summary:

Original harness as follows

Left rear speaker + green
Left front speaker + blue/brown
Right front speaker + blue/red
Right rear speaker + blue

All negative speaker wires unconnected from Kenwood unit.

Wh/bl wire connected to power control wire from Kenwood unit.

Red/bk wire connected to ground block at fuse box

I still am struggling with a volume difference between left and right channels. Maybe a bad speaker or amplifier.

Thanks for all the help. I hope somebody else needs this as well.

Steve