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IronBenderII Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2013 Posts: 169 Location: Elk Grove, CA
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 7:29 pm Post subject: Diesel van connector identification help |
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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.
_________________ FIRST Robotics Coach - #3859 (Wolfpack Robotics) http://www.twitter.com/wprobotics
'82 Diesel Westfalia with an 1Z TDI, Peloquin, GW 1.5" lift springs, 27" BFG ATs
'75 Bronco with 408 stroker, 40" MTRs, ARB/Dana 60 front/rear, all home built.
And my kid has a really cool baja bug  |
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Jeffrey Lee Samba Member

Joined: February 04, 2014 Posts: 1520 Location: Wisconsin
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 7:48 pm Post subject: Re: Diesel van connector identification help |
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[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. _________________ Camp Westfalia
Camping Tips • Newsletter • Cool Campervan Apparel
www.CampWestfalia.com
Last edited by Jeffrey Lee on Sat Apr 19, 2025 8:58 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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crazyvwvanman Samba Member

Joined: January 28, 2008 Posts: 10366 Location: Orbiting San Diego
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 8:13 pm Post subject: Re: Diesel van connector identification help |
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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 |
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IronBenderII Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2013 Posts: 169 Location: Elk Grove, CA
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 8:52 pm Post subject: Re: Diesel van connector identification help |
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Thanks all!! _________________ FIRST Robotics Coach - #3859 (Wolfpack Robotics) http://www.twitter.com/wprobotics
'82 Diesel Westfalia with an 1Z TDI, Peloquin, GW 1.5" lift springs, 27" BFG ATs
'75 Bronco with 408 stroker, 40" MTRs, ARB/Dana 60 front/rear, all home built.
And my kid has a really cool baja bug  |
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IronBenderII Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2013 Posts: 169 Location: Elk Grove, CA
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 4:12 pm Post subject: Re: Diesel van connector identification help |
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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. _________________ FIRST Robotics Coach - #3859 (Wolfpack Robotics) http://www.twitter.com/wprobotics
'82 Diesel Westfalia with an 1Z TDI, Peloquin, GW 1.5" lift springs, 27" BFG ATs
'75 Bronco with 408 stroker, 40" MTRs, ARB/Dana 60 front/rear, all home built.
And my kid has a really cool baja bug  |
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crazyvwvanman Samba Member

Joined: January 28, 2008 Posts: 10366 Location: Orbiting San Diego
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 6:30 pm Post subject: Re: Diesel van connector identification help |
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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 |
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IronBenderII Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2013 Posts: 169 Location: Elk Grove, CA
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 7:21 am Post subject: Re: Diesel van connector identification help |
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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. _________________ FIRST Robotics Coach - #3859 (Wolfpack Robotics) http://www.twitter.com/wprobotics
'82 Diesel Westfalia with an 1Z TDI, Peloquin, GW 1.5" lift springs, 27" BFG ATs
'75 Bronco with 408 stroker, 40" MTRs, ARB/Dana 60 front/rear, all home built.
And my kid has a really cool baja bug  |
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crazyvwvanman Samba Member

Joined: January 28, 2008 Posts: 10366 Location: Orbiting San Diego
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 7:30 am Post subject: Re: Diesel van connector identification help |
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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 |
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IronBenderII Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2013 Posts: 169 Location: Elk Grove, CA
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 9:32 am Post subject: Re: Diesel van connector identification help |
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Yeah, has two wires. Brown and blue/yellow. _________________ FIRST Robotics Coach - #3859 (Wolfpack Robotics) http://www.twitter.com/wprobotics
'82 Diesel Westfalia with an 1Z TDI, Peloquin, GW 1.5" lift springs, 27" BFG ATs
'75 Bronco with 408 stroker, 40" MTRs, ARB/Dana 60 front/rear, all home built.
And my kid has a really cool baja bug  |
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Kdj Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2017 Posts: 258 Location: Naptown
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 10:17 am Post subject: Re: Diesel van connector identification help |
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I just learned something, Hate that! Always wondered why my van had two sensors in the water outlet in head . 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. |
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IronBenderII Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2013 Posts: 169 Location: Elk Grove, CA
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2025 9:42 am Post subject: Re: Diesel van connector identification help |
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Anybody know where the other end of the wire goes? _________________ FIRST Robotics Coach - #3859 (Wolfpack Robotics) http://www.twitter.com/wprobotics
'82 Diesel Westfalia with an 1Z TDI, Peloquin, GW 1.5" lift springs, 27" BFG ATs
'75 Bronco with 408 stroker, 40" MTRs, ARB/Dana 60 front/rear, all home built.
And my kid has a really cool baja bug  |
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crazyvwvanman Samba Member

Joined: January 28, 2008 Posts: 10366 Location: Orbiting San Diego
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2025 11:55 am Post subject: Re: Diesel van connector identification help |
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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? |
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