"(Donna Cassano)" wrote:

> Hi Volks,
>
> While poking around the engine compartment today a few things caught my
> eyes. Any input?
>
> What is the little green box on the left sidewall of the engine
> compartment? It has two places to plug "things" into and mine are both
> empty. Somewhat below/infront of it are two "things" plugged into each
> other that look kind of curious. I'm thinking that these should be
> plugged into the little green box. I can't pull them apart (is there a
> trick), so I can't tell if they really do go to the little green box.
> Little green box has Part # 251 906 083 on it. Any words of wisdom out
> there.

This sounds like the idle stabilizer w/plugs. The plugs are supposed to be
removed and joined together wen the timing and idle speed is to be set. You
should replace the plugs in the box.

>
>
> Also, there are two other "things" waving in the breeze. They definitely
> appear to belong together. Female end is attached to a heavyish green
> wire and the male end is attached to a thin black wire that goes to a
> sensor (?) on the exhaust pipe heading to the cat. converter. My guess
> that this is some emissions sensor or the like and it's probably not
> harming anything by not being connected. Yes, No, Maybe so?

This is obviously the O2 sensor, it measures the fuel mixture and tell the
ECU how to adjust the fuel/air mixture. As I've never seen one of these on
any Vanagon, I cannot tell you how they should be connected. The Syncro's
I've owned didn't have any O2 sensor.

I'm sure 500 others will chime in here and tell you how :-)

>
>
> My gut says that VW put these "things" in there for a reason, so maybe I
> should get them working and reconnected.

Absolutely EVERYTHING that VW put in there has a reason. NO car manufacturer
puts in stuff in their cars without any reason. Now, if their reason is good
or questionable, that is a whole 'nother discussion.

PerL