Understanding Track Style Wiring Diagrams, Important Stuff!
What the heck is a "Track Diagram"?
Volkswagens' "Current Flow Diagrams" or track scheme of wiring diagrams is truly one very large view of the electrical systems and components incorporated on a particular vehicle. The "Engine Specific - Main Wiring Diagrams" or standard equipment diagrams, i.e. Tracks 1 - 308, will contain all components starting from the battery and moving to the brake lights [optional equipment excluded]. However, since it would be physically impossible to view all the tracks on one display or page, they have broken this large system of "Engine Specific - Main Wiring Diagrams" into smaller Component related divisions. For example, "Battery, Starter, Generator and Voltage Regulator" may be found on "Tracks 1 - 14", and "Brake Lights and Backup Lights" found on "Tracks 293 - 308". Optional/Common Equipment diagrams are added for systems or components which VW does not consider standard equipment for a particular model, i.e. Air Conditioning, Traction Control, Central locking and Power Sunroof, to mention a few. Optional equipment will vary from model to model.
It is very important to understand that track usage may appear to be duplicated or contain omissions; this is not a mistake!.
For example, while "Tracks 1 - 14" under "Engine Specific - Main Wiring Diagrams" may be used for "Battery, Starter, Generator and Voltage Regulator", the same term "Tracks 1 - 14" can also be used for the optional equipment diagrams "Cruise Control" and "Heated Seats", since they represent three separate diagram schemes.
Tracks 1 - 14 from the Main Diagrams
Tracks 1 - 14 from the Cruise Control Diagrams
Tracks 1 - 14 from the Heated Seats Diagrams
Don't be confused; this is not a mistake! Furthermore, track numbering schemes do not necessarily have to be consecutive, and there may appear to be missing tracks. Again this is not a mistake.
Additional Caution should be taken when using Optional/Common Equipment wiring diagrams. Do not try to intermix the "Engine Specific - Main Wiring Diagrams" and Optional/Common Equipment wiring diagrams. The optional equipment diagrams are self contained, complete, power to ground diagrams. Components such as the "Fresh Air Blower Motor" found in the Heating and Air Conditioning diagrams are not wired the same way as the "Fresh Air Blower Motor" found in the "Engine Specific - Main Wiring Diagrams", which is used for models without Air Conditioning.
"Current Flow Diagrams" or "Track" style wiring diagrams show the powerflow through all wires, connectors, switches and motors beginning at the top of the page, usually the fuse/relay box, down the page to "ground" at the bottom. If a particular Current Track does not provide all of the "Power to Ground" information about a system or component, continuations and splices, etc. will be shown. How to Read Displayed Page of Wiring Diagram, Important Stuff!
How has ALLDATA helped?
There are two categories for VW Track diagrams. Engine Specific - Main Wiring Diagrams and Optional/Common Equipment diagrams. It is important that the technician understand which diagrams are included in these two categories and how to use them.
The "Engine Specific - Main Wiring Diagrams" or Standard Equipment diagrams, include systems and components which are common to all variations of the engine/model family. These diagrams have been placed at the Vehicle level under Diagrams/Electrical.
The Optional/Common Equipment diagrams, which are the VW Optional Equipment diagrams, have been placed at the appropriate system or subsystem. For instance Anti-Lock Brake diagrams will be found at Brakes and Traction Control/Antilock Brakes / Traction Control Systems/Diagrams/Electrical, and Heating and Air Conditioning diagrams will be found at Heating and Air Conditioning/Diagrams/Electrical.
Because ALLDATA uses a smart system to display electrical diagrams, they will automatically be displayed at the Vehicle level below the "Engine Specific - Main Wiring Diagrams", allowing all of the electrical diagrams to be viewed at one level in the ALLDATA structure. In addition, the "Index For Track Diagrams" under "Engine Specific - Main Wiring Diagrams" contains a complete list of all available VW wiring diagrams. Index For Track Diagrams
Things you need to know how to use!
- How to Find the Correct Wiring Diagram
- How to Read Displayed Page of Wiring Diagram
- Wiring Diagram Circuit Identification
- Symbols Used In Wiring Diagrams
- Wire Color Code Identification
- Wire Size Conversion