Whats this???

Hi I got this engine some time ago but i found this on right hand of block it was used for something and would like to know what was used.. I have posted 2 photos and hope some one will be able to explain many thanks Dean

Is that black plastic with a fine wire mesh screen and does it go throught into the flywheel area. If it does then I presume it would be a breather for what could have been a sealed block to bellhousing. Military vehicles and some off road equipment have the clucth and flywheel area sealed completly so when fjording etc no water gets in and ruins things, in lots of cases they also have a drain pug in the bellhousing which is supposed to be removed and drained at services, they have a breather fitted at the highest part of the block or bellhousing. In your pic, that breather looks very very much like one I seen on a benz in germany.

Hi thanks for your reply, now i know what is it. i never seen it before cheers

The great thing about this site is the amount of advice you can get.
The problem with this site is the amount of advice you can get......

That black device is the remains of an inductive pick-up sensor cable which went to the multi-pin diagnostic socket on the left side of the firewall on super beetles. It was used a timing reference off the back of the flywheel for the big whizz-bang diagnostic equipment panel that some VW service centres had.

The shielded/screened cable has been cut off at the device.

its just the TDC sensor for the diagnosis system
pretty useless unless you know someone with one of the couple of dealership diagnoisis computers still in existance

well there ya go all fixed

Uber Kafer


Dont forget, I didnt say that it was a breather. I said if it was plastic and a wire mesh it COULD BE a breather.