On Sat, 21 Mar 1998, Scott Snyder wrote:

> I thought I had most of my engine parts assembled and ready to install when
> I saw in one of my manuals a TDC sensor.  I guess the PO did not install it
> when he rebuilt the motor.  Anyway, I have the following questions.... What
> is the TDC sensor? What does it plug into?  From what I can tell, it is
> installed in the right crankcase half.  Are these expensive?  It seems like
> every time I turn around, I find a missing part.  Any help with this
> question will be appreciated.

Scott:

Every VW manual I've read makes reference to the TDC sensor, but I have a
feeling this was something VW started out with in the 1980 Vanagons but
quietly droped.  I'm the original owner of my '81 and it doesn't have
one, and I've looked at lots of Vanagons in wreaking yards that don't
have them.  In fact, I've only seen them on some 1980 models, hence my
"surmise" above.

The TDC sensor doesn't plug into anything on the car.  It is supposed to
be used by VW techs for testing purposes.

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Tom Young                young@sherlock.SIMS.Berkeley.EDU
Lafayette, CA  94549     '81 Vanagon
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