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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: silvertdi on June 28, 2008, 09:53:34 am

Title: adding more gauges question
Post by: silvertdi on June 28, 2008, 09:53:34 am

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.   :D

Title: Re: adding more gauges question
Post by: Vincent Waldon on June 28, 2008, 12:13:26 pm

Quote from: "silvertdi"

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.

Quote from: "silvertdi"

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.

Title: adding more gauges question
Post by: silvertdi on June 28, 2008, 08:15:23 pm

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.

Title: adding more gauges question
Post by: Vincent Waldon on June 28, 2008, 08:45:24 pm

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.

Title: adding more gauges question
Post by: silvertdi on June 30, 2008, 03:30:48 am

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.

Title: adding more gauges question
Post by: jimfoo on June 30, 2008, 05:18:59 am

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.

Title: adding more gauges question
Post by: Turbinepowered on June 30, 2008, 07:30:20 pm

Oddly enough, my gasser Fox from '89 has a W terminal on its alternator.