[T2] 'little electrical box'

[Robert Mann]

>Early for of computer diagnostics.  I have one of them on my '72.

	My '73 1600dp has a translucent plastic box there, with many 
wires coming in (from usu traceable places in the electrical system), 
offering a dozen small sockets in columns on both sides of 2 pairs of 
heftier copper sockets.
	I assume there existed a computer, supplied initially to VW 
dealers/approved workshops, which plugged by c.16 pins into this 
array of sockets.
	 My guess is it would readily read dwell, points resistance, 
etc etc.  Given instead the mighty Australian  VANE  TUNESCOPE, which 
connects inductively to HT & LT, I fail to imagine what that computer 
could have done better.  But most owners lack a Vane, so if anyone 
has a relic VW diagnostic computer, it would be worth something.  If 
they are rare but can be kept working (how many computers from 4 
decades ago can??), a group of VW enthusiasts might even cooperate to 
buy one, and bring it to Buses of the Corn, etc.
	I just hope it doesn't require to be connected by phone line 
to Wolfsburg as some early Buick etc dealers' diagnostic computers 
became useless when the phone line to Detroit was down.

	I dare say one could purge this diagnostics socket, but I see 
little advantage since it doesn't take much room; and I can vaguely 
imagine some defects in the electrical system could be caused by the 
resulting re/de-connections  ... :-[


Robt Mann
Whangaparaoa, New Zealand
'73 VW 1600dp Devon camper
'53 Meteor V8
various Jawa-CZ and Jawa-NZ strokers


>-----Original Message-----
>From: type2 [mailto:type2-bounces at type2.com] On Behalf Of Squid
>Sent: Wednesday, 24 July, 2013 19:23
>To: type2 at type2.com
>Subject: [T2] 'little electrical box'
>
>1974 Westy, ..what does that 'little electric box' located just above the
>right hinge, in the engine compartment..do?   It has a lot of wires comming
>to it, I may have to eliminate it, and since a lot of 'stuff' like blower,
>heater boxes, etc is gone, if I can eliminate it, without bothering rest of
>electical system..good!  Any help with this is good. Just thought, if it a
>way back there, it must have some importance with the systems
>mentioned..above.
>Thanks
>Cheers
>Syd

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