Date:         Tue, 30 Sep 2003 03:44:16 -0400
Reply-To:     Alex Towner <altowner@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alex Towner <altowner@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      stereo power - with the key or without.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I'll let you guys in on a big secret: You can get your stereo to power up with the key in the ignition and NOT turned. Thus, insert the key (no turning necessary) and the stereo has power. Remove the key and the stereo can't be turned on. This is an old trick amongst the front wheel drive VW people.

Proceed as follows:

-Remove the plastic panel under the steering column.

-Locate the wire harness connected to the ignition switch.

-Take your 12 volt test light and start probing wires. There is usually a thick brown wire with a red stripe - you don't want that or any other big wire for that matter; they are for the starter. With the key in the ignition and not turned you will get power at 2 or 3 wires. Each time you get power leave the test light touching the wire and remove the key. One of those wires will lose power when the key is removed. 
To double check, make sure the wire you have located: 
(1) has juice when the key is in and not turned, 
(2) has power when the key is turned to the first stop (or the run position where the warning lights illuminate), and that 
(3) it has no power with the key removed. 

I believe the wire is related to the seatbelt warning system. On my '85 Vanagon, it was a very thin grey wire if I remember right, probably 18 gauge. On most of the first and second generation front wheel drive VWs it is a thin brown wire with a red stripe.

When you have found the wire, tap into it and connect to a standard 4-pin load reduction relay. This will prevent you from overloading the circuit you have tapped into. From the relay, attach whatever devices you want to operate with the key in only. In my case, I used a really beefy relay with heavy gauge wire and connected a small fuse block that will power up to ten accessories - an auxilliary power point, fog lights, stereo, CB, whatever. For the really big power consuming accessories (such as the fog lights), I added even more relays. Hey - loads of fun!

Now you know the secret.