>The question:  Just to the left of the heater controls (between the heater
>controls and the steering column) there is a hole in the dash with an
>aluminum thing in it.  At the back is an electrical contact (hot).  This is
>not the cig lighter, which is on the other side of the heater controls.  In
>the owner's manual on the diagram of the dash, this is shown as a circle,
>but not labeled.  What is this?

newbies ask this question SO many times, that there is a FAQ for it.
check out:

http://www.chaco.com/vw/

Ron - This IS the right URL, isn't it?

chris