Audi 80 Quiz
Body Electrical System

Orientation in the Electrical System

In this manual: Body Electrical System
Technical Description — 39Engines — 41Exhaust System — 13Cooling System — 28Fuel tank and fuel pump — 12Air Filter and Intake Ducts — 13Mono-Motronic Injection System — 18Digifant Injection System — 19KE-III-Jetronic Injection System — 35MPI and MPFI Injection Systems — 32Clutch — 11Transmission and Driveline — 21Suspension and Steering — 33Brake System — 41Anti-lock brake system — 8Wheels and Tires — 13Body Electrical System — 35Ignition System — 24Lighting — 14Signaling Devices — 7Instruments and Auxiliary Equipment — 54Heating and Ventilation — 7Body Components — 18Troubleshooting — 6Specifications — 13
~2min read

Terminal Designations
The apparent jumble of wires in a vehicle is actually very orderly, because many details of automotive electrical systems are standardized. The numbers on the various components and cable connections, as well as in the wiring diagrams, have the same meaning in all German vehicles and in some foreign vehicles.


Terminal 15 receives power from the ignition switch only when the ignition is switched on. In addition to the ignition coil, power also goes to those electrical consumers that should receive it only while the vehicle is in operation. Wires to terminal 15 have a black sheath, sometimes with additional colored stripes.


Terminal 30 receives power constantly from the positive battery terminal or, with the engine running, from the alternator. Careless handling of tools can cause short circuits and sparks if the negative battery terminal is not disconnected. This constantly live wire has a red sheath, with additional colored stripes if required.


Terminal 49 is responsible for the turn signal and hazard warning lights.


Terminal 53 supplies power to the windshield washer system.


Terminal 56 supplies power for the low beam (yellow and yellow-black wires) and for the high beam with white (white-black wires).


Terminal 58 is used for the front parking lights (side marker lights), as well as the rear side marker lights and license plate lights. The basic wire insulation color is gray, with additional colored stripes.


Terminal 31 is the body ground, or "earth", through which the power consumer must be connected to the vehicle body to complete the electrical circuit. The corresponding wires have brown insulation.

Electrical Connector Identification
On the Audi 80, individual wires are often grouped into large harnesses with black sheathing, which makes it difficult to locate a specific wire. Orientation assistance can be obtained from the numerous multi-pin plug connections, whose number of wires and exact positions are shown in the wiring diagrams in the following chapter.

Test yourself

A quick Audi 80 quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.