Sounds like an aftermarket battery isolator. Does (or Did) your Vanagon have
2 batteries?

TomC
tcarrington@relitech.com
http://volksweb.relitech.com
85 Vanagon Crew Cab
82 Westy diesel=>gas conversion
65 Notchback

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sean Garrett [SMTP:SGarrett@MI.STATE.AZ.US]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2000 10:31 AM
> To:   vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject:      80 Vangon mystery part?
>
> Seeking the wisdom of the list again. I am lacking a manual at this time
> but
> just sprung for the Bentley yesterday. In my engine compartment on the
> drivers side there is a (aftermarket brand) 2"x4" do-hickey that has
> cooling
> fins on it. about 4-5 wires come out of it and have been cut and are
> disconnected. Sorry but I can't remember the brand name. What is this?
>
> BTW my van is not parked at my house and its hard to get time to work on
> it.
> Also it is a salvage yard special that was (is) not running. I am
> restoring
> it in hope that it will serve me well. We bought a 95 camper in July and I
> fell in live with the VW campers. However my wife drives it and have
> learned
> that it is a costly SOB to keep maintained. I wanted something simpler in
> design, cheaper, and more ground clearance for Kayaking and Hiking jaunts.