Induction gizmo on #1 spark plug wire - what is it?

It goes to the big useless diagnostic plug in the upper left corner of the engine compartment. It is safe to discard/ignore the pickup.

"Richard Golding" wrote

It sounds like the pulse transformer that the VW computer diagnostic system used to check timing. Is this it?:

Read this page at Speedy Jim's excellent website: down near the bottom of the page where Jim explains it. Personally, I'd just cut the old #1 plug wire to remove it, since you're putting in new wires anyway.

-- Scott

...............Those spark plug leads must be 20+ years old!

Newer models had an inductive sensor for the "computer connector".=20 The sensor is not active in any way in normal operation. The wires go to the plug in the upper left corner of your engine bay.

Speedy Jim has some illustrations about the plug and the wiring. I have never seen the original sensor. Could you post a picture of it?

Speedys site:

I actually took my one year old 74 Super Beetle to VW in Freehold NJ on Rt 9 and watched them do the diagnostic thing. They had a special lift and bay on the side of the building and the report printed on on early clickety clack printer. The technician had a hand held input thing where he pushed the button to rate functions = or -. They did a lot of visual inspections like brake thickness and then inputted it on the handheld pushbutton thing. It was not sophisicated at all. No "Computer". You got a printout of the functions and then the tech recommended service. It was a free service. It was designed to get you in the door for service. Eric 68 bug cab 62 ghia cab

"Stutzsr" wrote

I doubt that anybody is interested in seeing these but here's a couple of the diagnostic printouts for my '72:

-- Scott

It's the timing pickup for the VW Computer diagnosis system introduced in 71 and discontinued in ??

You don't need it, although they are cute. I'd even give you a buck for it, but it's probably not worth shipping.

They will slide along the cable with some effort. Just unscrew the SP connector from the end of that wire and slide it off. There is actually a connector there: Just grab the rubber boot and pull it off from the plastic ring.

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----------------------------------------------- Jim Adney snipped-for-privacy@vwtype3.org Madison, WI 53711 USA

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Scott, Wow I wish I kept mine....I do remember the blue and white cross striped paper. What a great thing too display at a car show. Eric

There are still shops out there with that equipment. I once spoke to one in WI, but I needed work done on a 77 Bus and they don't work on Type IV engines.