Help me identify this...

[ventureforth]

Here is a pic of something I can't find in the Bentley manual.  It appears to be broken, and I'm wondering what function it provides so as to replace or fix it.  Currently, there does not seem to be anything "wrong" with my Rabbit.  My motor is 1.6NA in an '82 Rabbit with a FN 5 speed that may be factory or may have been swapped in later.  If the throttle lever went back that far, it would hit it at idle.  There are two wires coming out of the side of it, which you can almost see.  Sorry for the less than ideal pic, it was all I could get off before my phone died.

Thanks.

[Turftech]

It looks like a throttle idle return damper.  Must have had an automatic transmission before?  It keeps the throttle from slamming totally shut for a moment when you let off the pedal.  

[ventureforth]

It's a manual tranny.  FN 5-Speed.

[Turftech]

Man you are quick!  I corrected that in my post.  I'm sure it's a damper. 

[ventureforth]

So the wires have no effect now that it's a manual?  Should I just disconnect it and toss?

[Vincent Waldon]

Does your Rabbit have an upshift arrow on the dash??  I thought that was an MK2 feature only, but that sure looks like the throttle position switch from the upshift light system on early MK2s.  

[ventureforth]

Nope.  No upshift light.  It's possible whoever did the tranny swap before I got it took the tranny from an MK2 and just thought the needed that bit...but didn't actually wire up any indicators in the dash.  At any rate, it seems to be useless to me...but not doing any harm.  I'm just satisfied it's not something important.  Thanks for all the quick replies!

[Vincent Waldon]

I'm just satisfied it's not something important. 

Absolutely... delete away !!

[Turftech]

Ah, the dreaded shift arrow...  Sorry for the error.  Serves me right for guessing!

[Vincent Waldon]

No worries.. from that angle, with the accordion rubber boot... could easily be a damper.

[Baron VonZeppelin]

As Factory - ALL 82's through 87 or 88 (at least in Diesel family) - came with upshift arrow in center of dash.

But things do have ways of getting swapped/changed/deleted as time goes on. And i wouldn't want a working upshift arrow anyway.

[ORCoaster]

Would my 1981 Rabbit be considered a 1982 if it were manufactured in August of 1981?  It has the upshift arrow in the dash, has a light behind it but does not work.  I have none of those rubber booted, wired switches on my Injection Pump.

Checked the Alternator for the secret W terminal and found none.  Isn't that part of the upshift technology of the time?

Just wondering, perhaps the PO had the dash and instrument panel replaced.  It is in great shape with the exception of the vents on the side.  They are all brittle and do not open or close well.

Dale

[Vincent Waldon]

Yeah, you could look for an uber-complicated reverse switch as well with (EDIT: 4 or 5) pins on the top of the tranny.

As I understand it, the algorithm was extremely simple:  signal an upshift IF over 2000ish RPM and NOT full throttle, coasting, or already in 5th.

So.... you need a "coasting" and "full-throttle" switch on the IP, the W-terminal for speed, and a switch on the tranny that signifies 5th gear.  Very high tech.  

[Baron VonZeppelin]

Would my 1981 Rabbit be considered a 1982 if it were manufactured in August of 1981?

Short answer - Yes.
August was general start of next production year model.
But that's not to say i was standing by the big doors in August 1981 watching them roll out 82 Rabbits. I was still in High School just starting the 12th grade.

Long answer -
Complications and things of all sorts can delay new model productions "sometimes". If they didn't have all the proposed equipment in hand from vendors, they would extend the previous model year production if needed, but with mix match pieces as necessary.

Does the VIN match the Title, and is it Titled as 1982 ?

81 used a 2 pin reverse switch and was w/o upshift.
82 used a 4 pin with upshift.
Don't know for certain when 5 pin came along - but at least by 1985 it was 5pin. Probably sooner since the 4 pin is now unobtainablestic.
Then 88 or 89 the upshift was dropped when CE2 wiring came in, and they went back to 2pin.

[maxfax]

As Factory - ALL 82's through 87 or 88 (at least in Diesel family) - came with upshift arrow in center of dash.

But things do have ways of getting swapped/changed/deleted as time goes on. And i wouldn't want a working upshift arrow anyway.

I've read that same bit Baron..  But I have seen upshift lights clear back to '80..    Didn't A/C cars also have throttle switches??   I guess maybe they just had a full throttle switch to kill the A/C..