Mystery wires...

[Mikewire]

I tore into the Passat but I can't seem to find anything in the Bentley about these wires and the box. I assume is has something to do with the tranny, but I'm not sure. Can you identify any of the wires/connectors below?

Mystery Box: Can anyone identify the relays? edit: one of them has a "38" on it...


Cruise control?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mystery wires:
This one comes out of the back of the silver box and plugs in where?


This one was hanging out under the radio cage right above the ashtray - ashtray light?


This one is near the gear selector box and comes off of the blue connector under the trim by the OBD ports. Plugs into where?


This set of wires is back behind the glove box and goes where? - glove box light?


I really need to know if there plug in somewhere or if I can ignore them. The wiring diagrams are a little confusing, and I am having a hard time reading them, so any help would be appreciated.

[Roadhog]

That does not look factory.. Maybe an alarm?

[Mikewire]

That does not look factory.. Maybe an alarm?

Well it has "Hella" stamped on it, and all the factory harnesses plug in, with nothing that looks aftermarket. When I Google the part # it comes up with vague info on airbag controller, but I don't have airbags.

edit: the pictures don't really show much else, so I can see why you might suggest it is aftermarket. It actually attaches to the top of the front center console.

[Roadhog]

That does not look factory.. Maybe an alarm?

Well it has "Hella" stamped on it, and all the factory harnesses plug in, with nothing that looks aftermarket. When I Google the part # it comes up with vague info on airbag controller, but I don't have airbags.

edit: the pictures don't really show much else, so I can see why you might suggest it is aftermarket. It actually attaches to the top of the front center console.

ahah I just noticed the hella thing.. thats odd.. Its always fun to find stuff like this in your cars.

[Mikewire]

So, the silver Hella box is a cruise control module - Spencer you should have the same thing in your car. Still don't know what the three wire/4 pin harness is coming out of the box. Anybody?

The others are interior lights from what I can tell.

The only one I am still confused about is the Y/B w/ black connector coming from the blue OBD port --- Any idea? Aeron?

[Rennwagen1]

The only one I am still confused about is the Y/B w/ black connector coming from the blue OBD port --- Any idea? Aeron?

If it comes off the OBD port, it may only be needed when a scanner is plugged it. I am assuming OBD1? It may be completely unnecessary unless you need to power or feed some signal to the scanner when it is plugged in. Don't confuse this with a VAGcom, sometimes the regular(my Snap-On scanner for instance)scanners need other inputs than are available in the OBD port. It may be something as harmless as a tach signal feed.......

Also, if the car runs fine, don't be surprised if there are plugs that don't go anywhere. Usually cars are wired for all options(saves them having to make multiple main harnesses) and then they are installed and plugged in when the car is built. I have spent a lot of years under dashes and there are always plug that don't go to anything.....

And one more thing, when I plug in "GR-Steuergerat" off the silver box into a translating program it comes up with either"Stupid American" or "You're Screwed" depending on context

[Mikewire]

If it comes off the OBD port, it may only be needed when a scanner is plugged it. I am assuming OBD1? It may be completely unnecessary unless you need to power or feed some signal to the scanner when it is plugged in. Don't confuse this with a VAGcom, sometimes the regular(my Snap-On scanner for instance)scanners need other inputs than are available in the OBD port. It may be something as harmless as a tach signal feed.......

I had a feeling it was some kind of power or low voltage connector because that's what the blue OBDI connectors are for (FWIU)...some random VAG tool.

Also, if the car runs fine, don't be surprised if there are plugs that don't go anywhere. Usually cars are wired for all options(saves them having to make multiple main harnesses) and then they are installed and plugged in when the car is built. I have spent a lot of years under dashes and there are always plug that don't go to anything.....

Somewhere along the line the PO did a real hack job on most of the connectors (stereo mainly...crossover box sits on the blower fan......it's being moved/secured) And I just had a feeling that they could have gone to something and it may have been (re)moved or something. Plus the car runs ok, but throws a few odd sensor codes (I think I posted the scan above). So I am just wary, so thanks for confirming they may go to nowhere.

And one more thing, when I plug in "GR-Steuergerat" off the silver box into a translating program it comes up with either"Stupid American" or "You're Screwed" depending on context

Yes, a B3 comes with that assumption. It's a standard option...OEM.