Expert: Cleggsan - 11/25/2009

Question
Hi,
I have a 1969 vw bug and I"m trying it instal a cd player in it. Here is the problem, the car has never had a radio put in and I cant figure out where to pull power from. I know i can put the ground just about any where but to get power I have no clue... Also where is the best place to put the speakers?

Answer
The power must come from the ignition.  There should be an ignition wire somewhere that will switch on when the ignition is turned to ACC or ON. This would be the remote line to the cd player.  There would be another 12v line (normally; maybe not on cheap sets) that comes directly from the battery.

Speakers can be mounted wherever you can find a place to put them.  Originally they were in the doors and the back deck.  Take a look at crutchfield.com and go through their "outfit my car" sequence and it will help you with speaker locations and size:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-9ha1CTJScv0/app/car/mycar.aspx

And you can shop around on the crutchfield pages for further installation information. You don't have to purchase from them, but if you do they will supply installation instructions and wiring kits.

I don't know if your bug has the wiring installed or not; you will need to check that. If not, you must run your own wires to the amplifier outputs.

Hope this gets you started.  Let me know if you need more along the way.

PS: Here is a useful guide for newer VWs but it does not go back to 1969, nonetheless there may be useful information for you:

http://www.modifiedlife.com/request-a-volkswagen-car-radio-stereo-wiring-diagram...