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Sat Apr 19, 2025 7:29 pm

Hi guys. I’m trying to identify this connector from my 82 diesel. It’s in the engine bay, probably on the passenger side. One wire is blue/yellow and the other is brown.

Sat Apr 19, 2025 7:48 pm

[Edited to add: for 1983 diesel Vanagons only!]

That would seem to be the plug which connects to the coolant temp sensor in the coolant expansion tank.

The tank is indeed located on the passenger side of the engine compartment, just forward of the starting battery.

If not connected, the red warning light on the dash should flash continuously.

Sat Apr 19, 2025 8:13 pm

That connector isn't used for anything in 82 diesel Vanagons.
VW was clearly planning on having a coolant tank level sensor setup but it wasn't ready yet.
The 82 coolant tank has a blank spot where the sensor was planned to go.

That connector isn't wired in properly to make use of the 83+ tank level sensor and won't work right as it is.

Mark

Sat Apr 19, 2025 8:52 pm

Thanks all!!

Sun May 18, 2025 4:12 pm

Follow up question. Where does it go? I’ve been searching where the main bundle comes out in the dash and I can’t seem to find it.

Sun May 18, 2025 6:30 pm

The 82 diesel has 2 identical temp senders screwed into coolant hose flanges on the cylinder head.
One of them has a single wire to it, feeding the glow plug relay.

The other sensor has 2 wires to it.
One wire goes to the dash temp gauge and the other of the same color goes to that coolant tank sensor connector that was never used in 82.

The 83+ coolant tank level sensors won't work connected to that 82 sensor wire as it is.
There is a coolant level relay that must be added to the circuit in order for the 83+ level sensor to work.

Mark

Mon May 19, 2025 7:21 am

Thanks Mark. So that wire is in series with another sensor? I’ve been running continuity tests on the wires under the dash and can’t find the other end of the wire.

Mon May 19, 2025 7:30 am

Did you look at the 2 temp senders to see if your van still has 2 wires of that color going to one of them?

Mark

Mon May 19, 2025 9:32 am

Yeah, has two wires. Brown and blue/yellow.

Mon May 19, 2025 10:17 am

I just learned something, Hate that! Always wondered why my van had two sensors in the water outlet in head :oops: . It was a Diesel originally then swapped to a 1.8L 8V some time before I got it. This info explains that now. Guess I didn't need to to drill the water out-let on my almost complete 07K swap. But the level sensor wiring is present and functioning, with a sensor in the original expansion tank.
With the 07k swap I plan on using a 2010 jetta expansion tank.

Tue May 20, 2025 9:42 am

Anybody know where the other end of the wire goes?

Tue May 20, 2025 11:55 am

I explained that already and asked a question you didn't really answer.

Mark

IronBenderII wrote: Anybody know where the other end of the wire goes?