First, is the + terminal on my 81 rabbit the same as the "W" terminal i've heard people speak about? Do I hook it directly to a tach?
Second, my oil filter housing isn't threaded and tapped. Is there an alternate location for another oil sender, other than the head?
Thanks.
First, is the + terminal on my 81 rabbit the same as the "W" terminal i've heard people speak about? Do I hook it directly to a tach?
Nope.... sadly you need a real "W" terminal for the tach... the "+" is the output of the alternator.
Second, my oil filter housing isn't threaded and tapped. Is there an alternate location for another oil sender, other than the head?
Nope... most people run a M10x1 tee to add a sensor to the existing port. Anyone that sells VDO gauges will be able to get you the VDO version... about 7 bucks.
Hmm. There's nothing hooked up to my + terminal. It's just a spade connector recessed in the alternator case. There's a plug that pushes into a connector which feeds the car's circuits. The + terminal on mine is unused and looking lonely.
It's an output that is used, on some cars, to connect a noise-suppression capacitor... with a spade connector. If you do a bit of searching here for "tach" you'll see some pictures of alternators with a small black box mounted on the back... that's the noise suppressor that plugs into the "+" spade connection.
I see. My car has the Motorola alternator, not the Bosch. I replaced it about 4 months ago. Neither the old or the new have a "W" terminal. Is there a year range of rabbit or jetta that had the "W" terminal? Is it on the Motorolas or the Boschs? Thanks for all your help.
If you are willing to take your alternator apart, you can solder a wire between one set of windings and the diode, run it out of the case, and there is your W terminal. Just be sure to insulate it well.
Oddly enough, my gasser Fox from '89 has a W terminal on its alternator.