On 10/1/05, John Bange <jbange@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > 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!"
>

Thanks,
 I'll keep that in mind when I get around to installing the auxiliary
battery.