The most critical part of the temp sensor is actually for startup and running before warm up. A lose connection or open sensor makes things think they at -45F or something like that causing flooding and a no start or run condition. 

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Stuart MacMillan
Sent: Thursday, February 6, 2014 8:56 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: air cooled 2.0 1981 Cylinder head temp?

My '78 van had a #3 cylinder head temp sensor in the casting as part of the FI system.  I think it was there just to tell the ECU when the engine was up to temp, and it was often the cause of drivability problems.  Did they remove it when they put that engine in the early Vanagon?

Sometimes you can have more information than you can deal with effectively, and it just causes stress.  Maybe it's enough to be sure your engine is in tune, run premium gas to (hopefully) avoid detonation at hot temps and forget about it.

Stuart
Way too many VW vans in my past

On 2/6/14, Glen Moon <glenmoonfl@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Rebuilt 2.0 air cooled.  Having mechanic put a Dokata cylinder head sensor
> under #3 plug,  to gauge on dash.   What should the temperture be?