1/4" diameter mystery light in engine bay..??

I just noticed last night when messing with the car, it was running, and there was a slight red glow from the drivers side engine bay, basically on the left side, maybe 6-8" from the left carb. I just found it odd and don't know the purpose of it...

I believe that's where they normally put the tracking device.

Or not.

Seriously, I have no idea what would be glowing, but I cannot imagine it to be a good thing. Could it have been as simple as some light bleeding in from a taillight?

Is the car equipped with an alarm system?

Did someone put the alt warning light there/

*I do know what it is, please send $9.99 along with self addrssed envelope to....

* More than likely someone installed the alt. exciter light bulb there.

It's a 3/8" or so diameter lense, and it must be wired up, obviously it glows when running. What an unusual place to put it...

3/8" huh? That's an old one. The newer stuff usses mini-led's.

Are you involved in an affair, divorce, lawsuit or know anyone who has subversive opinions about the government and it's actions or policies?

If so it's probably an investigator's recorder/tracking device power on indicator and infrared transmitter able to follow your every word, movement, and thought while sending the info to the big black cube in Sunnyvale, CA (NSA) by satlink.

If you're lucky it's leftover from investigations of your previous owner and just not yet recovered from the car. If you're not lucky and you are the subject then............Seeeeee Ya!

One of my speedsters has one and I believe it had to do with the electric fuel pump.

Ken, if anything, I would be on the other side of the getting spied on thing ;) . So VW has to have a bulb on the alternator to make it work? Uhhhh ...

That's the "on" light for the Flux Capacitor.

Just don't go over 88 mph.

I'm jus' sayin'....

It could be a mood ring.

Mood lighting...

i"d quit drinking that cheap tequila myself, or drink more and you will see a lite on each side.

Oh c'mon guys, I'm not kidding... There's a red light wired in and is lit while running!!!

I sit 1/4 mile from the Blue Cube in Sunnyvale at my job. I'll ask around about your light.

"It is absolutely essential that the (D+) terminal on the alternator be connected to a functioning "Alt" warning light in the instrument cluster. If this light is missing or defective, the alternator will NOT charge the battery."

Source: http://www.vw-resource.com/alternator_wiring.html

Therefore, if that's true, if whoever put your CMC together couldn't figure out how to put a light in your dash without screwing it up, that light had to go somewhere.

Best guess. And the diagram shows a blue wire, if that helps.

Trace the wire and you'll know what is there for.

Maybe there is an LED in the dash requiring an incandescent bulb elsewhere.

Just wierd.

Follow that black wire with the white strip that comes from the little tab on your alternator.

Do you have a dash light that lightes up when the key is on but shuts off when the car is running?

Whatever you do, DON'T CUT THE BLUE WIRE!


If it was an alternator warning light it should go out and stay out first time you rev the engine to over 1500-2000 rpm and stay out until the engine is shut down. If it stays on constantly while running it's either NOT an alternator warning light or there is a charging problem.

At idle, it makes 13.4 volts, 2,500 rpms, 14.0 volts. I think I'm charging ok. The wiring is in the quarter panel... I'm going to leave it be... I like the mystery of it...