Does anyone know what the male terminal is for on the side of the distributor on later vanagons?  Was it used on some years and not others.  My van is an 87 but the engine was replaced and I noticed my distributor cap is shielded which I think is different than what normally comes on an 87 so maybe that explains the unused terminal?  I am trying to figure out if that spade connection should be attached to ground or something?

Thanks much.  I looked in my Bentley and searched under distributor but it brings up too much unrelated stuff.