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Subject:Re: 89 vanagon: Something missing from the alternator?
From:Mark McCulley
Date:Mon, 8 Jun 1998 09:08:08 -0700

At 09:21 PM 6/6/98 -0500, Mark B. Magee wrote:
>Paolo Damiani wrote:
>
>> As I was poking around the engine compartment today, waiting for the oil to
>> drain, I noticed that there is a three pin connector cable-tied to the right
>> back side of the alternator (as you stand at the rear of the car).
>>
>> Is there something supposed to be attached to this or is it a plug for
>> diagnostics? I would tell you what color the wires were but I forgot to note
>> it, and it's late, but this is keeping me up. If it is a diagnostics
>> connection, should there be a cover on it?
>>
>> Any insight would be appreciated... I stared at the diagrams in the Bentley
>> manual but came up with nothing.
>
> I have the same question.
>
This is a connection for the TDC (top dead center) sensor. Theoretically
used by dealer diagnostic equipment, but I can't say for sure that they
actually use it. I believe the connector on my 87 has an attached cover, but
I'm going from memory and may be wrong. I've seen it in Bentley somewhere
(wiring diagrams?).

MM