What is this resistor with yellow wires and is it needed?

Hi chaps, 

I'm in the process of doing a 20v conversion and want to know what this resistor is for, if it's needed and where it's located on the car?! I think it's normally mounted somewhere around the battery tray… 

Well, I don't know specifically, what the thing is.
But I can tell you what they are Generally used for.

Ballast for motors,  Distributors/coils, which usually have 2 wires.

I would get a Bentley for a 20V and see what it is.
If it was on your Original car, then it is in the Bentley on your original schematics.

The resistor on your Heater Blower has separate take offs or wires to control current and speeds.

They are usually large and hollow to allow air flow in and around the device as it gets "HOTP".

What it plugs in to as to the connector on the other end.

The Wires to these types of resistors are usually spot welded to the resistor connections because they get so hot they will melt Solder, and or Burn a regular connector.

On some cars that I have seen Ballast resistors on the cars are never located near what the control, but usually out of hte way places that you can't find when they blow, or to prevent Burns by being located "behind" the scenes.
 

That resister is specifically used on the factory mk1 for dim/dipped headlights OEM. If you use an updated relay controlled loom you won't need it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks R32guy - I've bought an updated loI'm so have removed this from my setup. 

Thanks R32guy - I've bought an updated headlamp loom so have removed this from my setup. 

its also the leading cause of headlight switch loom fires in the mk2 golf thanks to its stupid location and wire routing. its not required by law or mot even if you dont have a relay kit so I always bin them.

note the plug on the car loom fits nicely into the fog light connector near by, which is another potential cause for loom fires, as a friend of mine found out a while ago

the other end of those 2 yellow wires poke out behind the fusebox and plug into mating connectors inside, if you disconnect those plugs this will remove any potential risk of the wires shorting in the bay