I was reminded one recent weekend of how Volkswagens have always been an integral part of my life and more specifically a part of life that I can share with my family.
When I first purchased my current bug (a ‘72 model), the wiring under the hood, under the back seat and in the engine compartment was a haphazard jumble of wires that somehow had been interconnected to some degree to achieve power for lights, ignition, etc. Whoever had owned my bug previously was quite frankly a complete idiot when it came to wiring. Even I, (and I’m pretty ignorant about electrical things) could have done a better job of slicing, splicing and crimping together wires than those who had attempted it previously. My wiring was so messed up that even Kyle Guthrie (who I greatly admire for his ingenuity and ability to turn his daydreams into realty) was only able to affect a temporary solution to my lights problem. That was in December of last year. During the ensuing ten months it was a constant struggle and fight to keep my headlights lit at night, my turn signals blinking and my brake lights working.
One recent evening while visiting at my brothers house we downloaded the wiring schematic for my bug from www.thesamba.com. Armed with the schematic, tools and a flashlight we (really more like “he,” cause all I did was hold the flashlight) traced down each wire, discovered where they went to and matched the correct female end to the appropriate male post, checked and replaced the necessary fuses and “voila” I had lights again.
While I really needed my lights fixed, the experience of working on my bug with my brother is one that I throuroughly enjoyed while also causing me a few moments of wistful reflection. I don’t recall the last time we actually worked on a bug together but I’m sure it has been at least twenty years or more and to be truthful, back then it would likely have been more of him working on it for me rather than us working together. I’ve gained enough knowledge since those early days to at least be dangerous when I have some tools around my bug but I’m sure I’ll never get to be as good at mechanical things as he is. Thankfully that doesn’t matter ‘cause at least I have a bug that is going to need work done on it for a long time to come. To paraphrase ‘Tuco’ from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, ‘I know I have a brother that will never refuse me a helping hand with my bug when I need it.’
-Charlton (a.k.a. “Bugz”)