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ccdn
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2008
Posts: 87
Location: BC, Canada
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 Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:16 pm Post subject: Broken Wire near Distributor - Not sure what it is |
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Hey guys,
I just noticed what appears to be a broken wire that starts near the distributor cap and looks like it wants to connect near the alternator.
Almost looks like a ground?
Hoping someone can confirm what it is and how serious, just drove the van for about 50miles and didn't have any issues....
Thanks! |
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PDXWesty
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6241
Location: Portland OR
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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| It looks like the tab broke off on the base of your distributor where the wire should attach. Easy fix. |
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ccdn
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2008
Posts: 87
Location: BC, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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| PDXWesty wrote: |
| It looks like the tab broke off on the base of your distributor where the wire should attach. Easy fix. |
Hmm, based on how the wire wants to lie, I don't think it connects back to the distributor, but of course I could be wrong.
I can't see where it was previously attached, looking at another syncro right now and his engine doesn't even have this wire...
Thanks |
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syncrosimon
Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2008
Posts: 257
Location: Devon, England
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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Looks like a non standard Earth strap to me. There is an earth point on the back of the distributor but is much smaller gauge. Earth strap possibly for the alternator.
_________________
1991 16" 2.1 DJ Syncro factory hightop ex Finnish Army Ambulance, now sold.
Thinking about Thing or 181 (182) ownership. |
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ccdn
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2008
Posts: 87
Location: BC, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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| syncrosimon wrote: |
| Looks like a non standard Earth strap to me. There is an earth point on the back of the distributor but is much smaller gauge. Earth strap possibly for the alternator. |
Would this be the standard earth strap and what my non standard wire seems to be replacing:
I also don't have that metal sheath overtop of the distributor cap which is where that wire is connecting.
Sorry for the crappy pictures is freezing outside, can't hold the damn camera without shaking  |
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Captain Pike
Samba Member
Joined: December 30, 2003
Posts: 3336
Location: Talos IV, Piedmont Arizona
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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May be a grounded oil pressure sensor wire. Someone did it to kill the dynamic oil buzzer.
_________________
LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
.....................All Current....................... |
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PDXWesty
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6241
Location: Portland OR
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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In your first picture there seems to be a nut at the base of the dist. with the shiny edge of a copper broken tab on the top. What is that for?
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ccdn
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2008
Posts: 87
Location: BC, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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| PDXWesty wrote: |
In your first picture there seems to be a nut at the base of the dist. with the shiny edge of a copper broken tab on the top. What is that for?
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That is a tab like you said, but I really don't think the wire came from there, the wire would have to bend oddly to contact that point, but who knows. |
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PDXWesty
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6241
Location: Portland OR
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Maybe that's why it broke? |
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ccdn
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2008
Posts: 87
Location: BC, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 4:54 pm Post subject: |
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| PDXWesty wrote: |
| Maybe that's why it broke? |
Heh, maybe. I didn't install it, figured it was a standard wire that someone would know where it should go. Also, the broken end doesn't easily attached to that tab, and there is no residue on the tab to indicate it pulled or sheared off from that point.
Thinking now it is something funky, van runs and its going to see a mechanic shortly. Not sure how long its been that way....
Thanks. |
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vanaguy
Samba Member
Joined: November 20, 2006
Posts: 225
Location: Sumner, WA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Your tab doesn't look broken to me. It seems like the picture is just catching it at a funny angle. |
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Captain Pike
Samba Member
Joined: December 30, 2003
Posts: 3336
Location: Talos IV, Piedmont Arizona
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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I didn't pay att to the text on the post. That must be an old PO installed retro ground. No big deal.
_________________
LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
.....................All Current....................... |
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tencentlife
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 10075
Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 6:35 pm Post subject: |
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Given the gauge and the lie of it, I would say some intelligent fellow added a dedicated ground for the alternator chassis. I do this on most of my vehicles at some point. Look for the remains of the broken eyelet attached to the back of the alternator body, or at the base where it mounts.
Also, welcome to the Samba, and help out us who like to help: include your year/model in your post, or add a sig line with that info so you don't need to remember. Comes in handy when you're asking for advice.
_________________
Shop for unique Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/
Please don't PM here, I will not reply.
Experience is kryptonite to doctrine. |
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ccdn
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2008
Posts: 87
Location: BC, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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| tencentlife wrote: |
Given the gauge and the lie of it, I would say some intelligent fellow added a dedicated ground for the alternator chassis. I do this on most of my vehicles at some point. Look for the remains of the broken eyelet attached to the back of the alternator body, or at the base where it mounts.
Also, welcome to the Samba, and help out us who like to help: include your year/model in your post, or add a sig line with that info so you don't need to remember. Comes in handy when you're asking for advice. |
I'll have a look later, thanks.
And yes, I keep meaning to update my sig, will do that now! |
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ccdn
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2008
Posts: 87
Location: BC, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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| vanaguy wrote: |
| Your tab doesn't look broken to me. It seems like the picture is just catching it at a funny angle. |
Tab on the base of the dist isn't broken, its pristine, never been used as far as I can tell.
Would like to know what that metal sheath is over the dist in my other picture with the wire that runs to that tab is for. Should I look into getting mine replaced, assuming it was there to begin with.
Thanks! |
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tencentlife
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2006
Posts: 10075
Location: Abiquiu, NM, USA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:35 pm Post subject: |
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It's a noise reduction shield. The sparking from the rotor inside the diz cap makes a lot of RF, so the shield intercepts a lot (hopefully) of the energy and grounds it out. Good thing to have, but it has to be connected to that tab to work.
_________________
Shop for unique Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
https://intrepidoverland.com/vanistan/
Please don't PM here, I will not reply.
Experience is kryptonite to doctrine. |
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ccdn
Samba Member
Joined: December 04, 2008
Posts: 87
Location: BC, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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| tencentlife wrote: |
| It's a noise reduction shield. The sparking from the rotor inside the diz cap makes a lot of RF, so the shield intercepts a lot (hopefully) of the energy and grounds it out. Good thing to have, but it has to be connected to that tab to work. |
Thank you!
I'll see if I can locate one sooner than later. |
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