Hi everyone,

So I was busy this weekend fitting a westfalia removable towbar and VAG wiring loom to my superb estate. The installation of the bar and running cables was fine, but I got a bit stumped with the wiring... hopefully someone has done this before and can offer some advice! There are two parts to the wiring loom; one part connects to the brown multiplug under the dashboard - which was fine, and the other bit connects to the back of the fusebox.

 

So i've accessed the fuse box (the one under the cover at the end of the dashboard, drivers side), undone the two bolts holding it in place, got the cover off the back of it. The next stage is to separate the pink inner bit from the black outer bit (which holds all the fuses). I've got the two loose and as far as i can tell it's clipped in at two places; the bottom, and towards the drivers seat, but it still doesn't want to come out. Is there a special trick to separating them, do you need to remove all of the fuses first?

 

If anyone has some advice it would be gratefully received!

thanks
Dan

Hi everyone,

So I was busy this weekend fitting a westfalia removable towbar and VAG wiring loom to my superb estate. The installation of the bar and running cables was fine, but I got a bit stumped with the wiring... hopefully someone has done this before and can offer some advice! There are two parts to the wiring loom; one part connects to the brown multiplug under the dashboard - which was fine, and the other bit connects to the back of the fusebox.

 

So i've accessed the fuse box (the one under the cover at the end of the dashboard, drivers side), undone the two bolts holding it in place, got the cover off the back of it. The next stage is to separate the pink inner bit from the black outer bit (which holds all the fuses). I've got the two loose and as far as i can tell it's clipped in at two places; the bottom, and towards the drivers seat, but it still doesn't want to come out. Is there a special trick to separating them, do you need to remove all of the fuses first?

 

If anyone has some advice it would be gratefully received!

thanks

Dan

Looks like you've ventured into the unknown there Dan. This isn't something I'd've attempted, so hopefully someone will pick this up and help. Good luck.

It sounds like the bit you are describing is the plastic housing that holds the terminals in place. If it is anything like the Octavia, it slides in one direction or another before separating but its pretty stiff and you do need to remove the fuses so take a picture of the fuse layout first...

I don't remember properly as its been almost three years. I think the pink bit you are talking about is the bit that prevents the terminals backing out of the holes, sometimes known as antibackout or terminal position assurance. Anyway whatever, I don't remember having to remove all the fuses. Often the tab just has to be moved sideways a few mm to allow the extra terminals to slide in. Do you have a photo to remind me?

Remove the fuses, widen the black part by the two little triangles and use the pink bit to one end.

Not easy to do, and I can't say that I was especially successful.

Do you have a terminal removal tool for VAG vehicles? You will need one.

Hi guys,

thanks for the responses - very useful. I've not got a photo unfortunately, but will take one next time i have a go at it.

 

I'll definitely take the fuses out next time and see if helps! I'm not sure if I'll need the terminal removal tool, it's a very small wire and i was able to get them out of the brown multiplug fine using an electrical screwdriver to depress the locating tang...

 

Thanks again for the help - i'll let you know how i get on with it this weekend!

Dan

They are different terminals in the fuseboard.

There are two retaining clips on each terminal and they are buried deep in the plastic cage and are stiff to release.

I'd recommend sourcing the right tool for about £7.

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/271069692380?_mwBanner=1

Do not take the pink bit out!

All you need to do is if you look on the back of the fuse box as per the picture (which is a golf fuse box but the same in principle) you will see in the middle, top of the pink back a tag which you flick over this allows the whole pink bit to slide down, find a empty spare fuse way opposite a supply connection, be careful there are quite a few blank fuse ways with no supply at all, its easier to see from the fuse side if there is a connection for the top of the spade fuse, then in the opposite side you can push in a repair cable like the one on the ebay link, the link is just an example of the cable i'm referring to, you can get many size cables depending on the current size you are needing, it had a barb on it and locks in place, once in push the pink back plate up till the tag locks it back in place, then you can fit a normal blade fuse in your new supply, I did this for a supply for a auto mirror, I did notice that on two of the distribution bars on the back of the fuse box a push on tag, one switched, one permanent, my tow bar electrics had been connected to these and then wired through in-line fuse,

Edited 10 June, 201511 yr by bryanp

@BryanP is right. This is the way you should do it. It is definitely not necessary to remove all the fuses!

Ok interesting. I found it moved for me enough without removing the fuses too but it felt a bit forced so I thought I should have actually removed them!!!

Ok interesting. I found it moved for me enough without removing the fuses too but it felt a bit forced so I thought I should have actually removed them!!!

definitely no need to remove the fuses, it only moves a bit but thats all it needs!

Guys,

That's picture is brilliant - i hadn't seen that little clip at the top which explains why it wouldnt release..

 

I'll have another look at the wiring loom that plugs in- it might already have one of those connectors. The instructions say:

 

"29. Golf Plus, Touran, Tiguan, Passat, Sharan, Leon, Alhambra and Superb: Insert the single 

black/blue cable of the cable set into the fuse-protected side of a suitable fuse compartment 

that is already equipped with type +15 (ignition live). Insert the supplied 5A fuse into this fuse 

compartment."

 

So it sounds like I don't need to remove any cables, just find the right place to insert the black/blue cable.

 

I'll have a go on Saturday and report back!

Cheers,
Dan

Edited 11 June, 201511 yr by shandyboy

OK, so that ties up. I didn't think I removed the fuses either. You only need the terminal removal tool to take the terminals out, so if you get it right first time you will be fine.

 

Take some care to choose a space that suits what power you need. If its for just a small current of a few amps you should be OK, but if you are trying to add maybe a 30 amp supply to something you need to take care to pick a spare one that would have been used for 30A if it were there. Example, my feeds for towing electrics (the extra ones for charging and fridge) come from the heated rear seats and something else high power that I don't have.

You're right I do need the terminal removal tool, just ordered one! I'll be using fuse no.4 as recommended by the instructions. I need to extract the wire from the fuse box then it goes into a small connector which piggy backs back into the fusebox. Its all a lot clearer now I have had a good look at it today (was rushed at the first attempt!)

Thanks to all for your advice, very much appreciated.

Dan