> While tightening up some tranny bolts I noticed a dangling black
> electrical
> connector at the end of a red and white wire. This wire was one of a
> sheathed pair the other a larger diameter one leading to the solenoid.
> Both
> appear to lead back to the alternator. ...
> In any case my van is starting and running fine. Does anyone know offhand
> the purpose of this wire/connector and where it actually connects to?

I believe that's the ware that's used to sink the ground side of the
auxiliary battery relay. If you don't have a secondary battery, or [aren't
using/don't have] the factory battery relay, it doesn't do anything. A
properly wired secondary battery relay should be activated by 12V off the
blue wire on the alternator, but with the ground side of the relay coil
going out through the starter solenoid so that the relay doesn't activate
while you're cranking the starter. I couldn't get mine to go back on, so I
just left it dangling. No secondary battery, no problem.

--
John Bange
'90 Vanagon
"Keine Bange, wir holen die Zange!"