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Date:         Tue, 19 Aug 2003 09:38:09 -0700
Reply-To:     Tom Young <tomyoung1@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tom Young <tomyoung1@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Vanagon Double Relay wiring confusion
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi all:

When I purchased my '82 Federal Westfalia last year I dropped the engine and all the related electronics (e.g., wiring harness, AFM, ICU, ECU, etc.) out of my '81 California Vanagon and installed it in the Westfalia. I'm making the Westfalia "Federal" again and I have a question regarding the double relay and its wiring.

As you know, the dual relay has two plugs that go into it. The plug that connects on the right side has all white wires coming out of it and these wires all disappear into the wiring harness that runs across the front of the engine.

Question: I assume this is the side of the double relay that stays active while the engine is running, controlled by the switch in the AFM?

The plug that connects on the left side of the double relay has wires that are all colored, (red, black, blue/red, etc.) and these wires disappear into a sheath that goes into the connection box on the left side of the engine compartment.

Question: I assume this is the "startup" portion of the relay, energized initially by the starter motor being activated?

Anyway, back when I removed the Federal engine and its components I noticed that the left side plug (colored wires) had a black wire that came out of one of the connectors on the plug with the other end attached to a screw on the front firewall. Clearly a non-factory modification. What I'm trying to understand is what this wire is doing (well, it's obviously grounding that connection) and how it fits into the original scheme of things.

The black wire in question goes into the terminal marked "3" on the plug which fits into terminal "85" on the relay. Looking at the wiring diagram, it appears that the wire coming out of this terminal should be white, going on over to terminal 28 at the ECU.

Question: is this correct?

Since the vehicle was running in its "Federal" configuration when I bought it, I guess that the ECU must be grounding this terminal as well. But, are there any "issues" with having the terminal permanently grounded, the way it is? Off hand, it doesn't seem like there could be, since the left side of the dual relay is energized only when the starter motor is turning over and is out of the game otherwise.

Any Vanagon electrical experts out there that can help me out here?

TIA!

--------------------------------------------------------------- Tom Young '81 Vanagon Lafayette, CA 94549 '82 Westfalia ---------------------------------------------------------------


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