OK i have a 88 s4 n/a and i broke the guage surround where the headlights and windshield wipers etc. and now I am making a custom one so I am going to make switches for the healights windshield wipers and hazards and i need to know what wires will activate the headlights (they are stuck so i just need to know how to get them on, like what is the pos. and neg.)also for the windshield wipers and the hazards. I dont have a multimeter so a little help would be appreciated.
thanks,
steven

 

First stop is the Factory Service Manual. The FAQ has links. There is also a topic in the Archives with complete S5 wiring diagrams if you need it.

Have fun...

 

I was reading the diagram and I am as confused as a virgin with a supermodel, I just need to find out what colors are the 12v hot wire and the ground for headlights, hazards, windshield wipers; Thanks and sorry that I am wiring diagram illiterate.

 

It's not that simple. Various circuits need various signals to run. If you can't read the diagrams, then I don't suggest you modify your car's wiring.

For example, grounding the red/white wire at the headlight switch will turn the low beams on but not raise the lights.

Applying 12V go the red/yellow wire will raise the lights. 12V to the red/blue wire will lower them.

The interior lights require a high wattage rheostat to be connected to the stock wires. The value of this can be found by measuring the existing unit. The diagrams will show you how to connect.

Once you get into the turn signals, hazard lights and wiper motor it gets a bit complicated to explain, so refer to the wiring diagrams.

 

thanks, my relay for raising and lowering my headlights is shot and i have them set where i want them so i dont need that, i will worry about windshield wipers later since i cant drive in the rain because i have no sunroof...lol (plywood and a brick keeps the rain out when i park) and thanks for your help man, i just needed low beam for driving at night...yay

 

The instructions I posted will not activate the marker lights so be sure to get those going before driving at night.

 

If you have a simple testing light ($5). You can poke it around in the wiring harness connector behind the switches to find one of the two positive wires for the lights. Do this with the all the functions on the switch turned to the off positions. This will give you the positive wires. The rest you can figure out by process of elimimation, by turning one function on and retesting to see what new wire lights up the tester. I did some monkeying around with this before, but can't remember what wire was what unless I tried it again. My dash lights crapped out and I had to drive to my night shift a couple times with a flash light to see how fast I was going. I basically found the hot wire for the key on position (not the always hot wire that allows the headlights to work without a key, you will never turn it off using this one), and put a jumper from that wire to the wire to activate the dash lights. The dash lights were now always on whenever the car was on rather than only when the headlights were on. It was an preferable alternative to a new $600 switch.

 

stevenx788,

I`m not being a dick but you`re attempting to rework the wiring in one of the more complex areas of any vehicle.......and you don`t even have a multimeter?
You really are not prepared for the task. I do wish you the best of luck. I fear you`re gonna need it.

 

No offence, but with what seems to be a serious lack of knowledge (and even basic tools) you're looking to get yourself into a whole word of pain attempting this. Just buy another instrument surround. You'll be much happier with the end result.

 

i made a new surround out of wood and covered it with red material, i have the headlights working with a switch and the running lights on a switch also windshield wipers to a **** and now i have three speeds instead of one. I havent got to the hazards yet but i did this all night last night and no props thanx
comon guys its an 88 cant be that hard geez

 

ha ha ha I love how people think just because its old its simple to work on. With wiring you have to know what you are doing no matter what year the car is. Go buy a $20 multi meter from autozone, and start poking around. You will learn a lot about wiring.

 

SO WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK

 

lol... thats actually kinda cool...not to shabie

 

for a broke *** **** it dam sure is also im putting guages above the cd deck and a red border around the middle and u guys thought i couldn't do it...

 

You went a lil OD witht he cheapness lol.

 

im not a fan of the guage thing but the center isnt too bad...im making something similar to that ill post pics when im done...

 

if you ever want to go back the way it was i got a couple of the plastic outsides for that. I know they are not perfect bein 19 years old but they are workin

 

ouch