Get to know your Volkswagen.

English · machine-assisted draft

A rod connecting the piston to the crankshaft, allowing the piston to move freely up and down in the cylinder.

• engine
• piston
• crankshaft

English · machine-assisted draft

A type of electrical connector with a 6.3 mm spade shape and shielding for protection

• connector
• electrical

English · machine-assisted draft

A switch that signals the engine computer when the throttle is in the idle or full throttle position

• engine
• throttle

English · machine-assisted draft

Original type of tire used on VWs through the mid 1960s, with plies that run diagonally from one bead to the other.

• tire
• engine

English · machine-assisted draft

An intermediate section of the exhaust system that joins adjoining exhaust components before the silencer. Paruzzi lists this part for Vanagon/T25 1.9- and 2.1-liter Waterboxer models from October 1985 through July 1992, with a 50 mm diameter at both ends. Earlier systems and different engine codes may use other sections; match the actual exhaust layout and catalog reference.

• exhaust
• vanagon
• waterboxer

English · machine-assisted draft

A charger whose delivered current decreases as charging progresses. In Gerry’s lead-acid battery FAQ this contrasts with a constant-current charger. The term describes charging behaviour, not a guarantee of automatic shut-off or compatibility with a particular camper battery chemistry.

• battery
• charger

English · machine-assisted draft

Describes a lead-acid battery affected by persistent lead-sulfate deposits on its plates. Gerry’s FAQ associates this condition with prolonged discharged storage and reduced serviceability. This is different from corrosion visible on external terminals, and the label alone does not establish that a battery can be restored.

• battery
• condition

English · machine-assisted draft

In the lead-acid batteries discussed in Gerry’s battery FAQ, the liquid mixture of sulfuric acid and water in contact with the plates. Its density changes with charge state. This meaning is specific to that battery chemistry; it is not a generic name for every camper battery’s contents.

• battery
• chemistry

English · machine-assisted draft

The height of the liquid electrolyte relative to the plates in a serviceable flooded lead-acid battery. It describes liquid quantity, not state of charge or specific gravity. Gerry’s battery FAQ discusses accessible cells; this term must not be read as an instruction to open a sealed battery.

• batteries
• maintenance

English · machine-assisted draft

Discharging a battery to a low state of charge. It does not necessarily mean zero charge or zero terminal voltage. In the lead-acid context of Gerry’s FAQ, repeated deep discharge can shorten useful life. A “deep-cycle” label does not remove the battery manufacturer’s discharge limits.

• battery
• discharge

English · machine-assisted draft

A charger that regulates its output to maintain a selected charging current during that operating stage. This differs from holding voltage constant. Gerry’s 1995 FAQ uses the term for automotive lead-acid charging; its historical settings are not a charging program for every modern camper battery.

• battery
• charger

English · machine-assisted draft

An aftermarket exhaust system sold under the Monza name. Paruzzi describes chromed rear outlets and lists this Vanagon/T25 configuration for carbureted Type-4 engines. The name refers to exhaust hardware and its sound/appearance, not to an engine upgrade or proof that it fits every Vanagon powerplant.

• exhaust
• type4

English · machine-assisted draft

An electrical load that continues drawing battery current when the vehicle is switched off. Gerry’s FAQ mentions clocks and other key-off equipment: some draw is intentional, while excessive draw reduces parked starting reserve. Camper appliances deliberately powered from a leisure battery should be distinguished from an unexplained starter-battery drain.

• battery
• load

English · machine-assisted draft

A lead-acid battery sold as requiring reduced routine servicing, often with no user access for checking or topping up individual cells. The name does not mean that charge, terminals and overall condition need no attention. Gerry’s 1995 FAQ discusses this older automotive usage; it does not describe every modern sealed battery.

• battery
• design

English · machine-assisted draft

A battery designed for repeated, prolonged discharge and recharge, rather than chiefly for the brief high current used to start an engine. In camper discussions this distinction helps explain a leisure battery’s role. “Deep-cycle” is a duty description, not permission to drain any battery completely; chemistry and manufacturer limits still matter.

• battery
• type

English · machine-assisted draft

The ratio of a liquid’s density to that of water. In the flooded lead-acid battery context of Gerry’s FAQ, electrolyte specific gravity helps estimate charge and compare cells. It is different from electrolyte level; temperature and battery design affect interpretation. It is not a measurement for a sealed lithium camper battery.

• batteries
• specific
• gravity

English · machine-assisted draft

A lead-acid battery rating expressed in minutes under a specified discharge test. Gerry’s FAQ describes a 25-amp load at 80 °F until a 12-volt battery reaches 10.5 volts. It is neither amp-hours nor a prediction of camper runtime, which depends on actual loads, conditions and discharge limits.

• batteries
• reserve
• capacity

English · machine-assisted draft

An estimate of how much charge remains in a battery, commonly expressed as a percentage of full charge. It differs from battery health: a worn battery can be fully charged yet store little usable energy. The voltage and electrolyte-density table in Gerry’s 1995 FAQ concerns lead-acid batteries, not a universal camper-battery gauge.

• batteries
• maintenance

English · machine-assisted draft

An engine that circulates liquid coolant through passages and a radiator to carry heat away. Gerry’s Vanagon spark-plug reference lists DH water-cooled engines with Digijet for 1983–1985 and MV engines with Digifant for 1986–1991. Verify engine code, market, and model year; this archived table is an identification aid, not a complete application chart.

• engine
• water-cooled

English · machine-assisted draft

Volkswagen’s electronic fuel-injection and engine-management system used in North American Vanagons from 1986 onward according to Gerry’s terminology FAQ. The archived FAQ distinguishes it from Digijet, which it associates with 1983.5–1985 Vanagons; Gerry’s technical bulletin index also lists Digifant topics for 1986–1991 models. Verify year, engine, and market before using system-specific parts or procedures.

• engine
• management

English · machine-assisted draft

Community name for Volkswagen’s water-cooled, horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine family used in Vanagons. Gerry’s technical index covers 1.9 L and 2.1 L versions and year-specific service topics. A January 2004 archive thread describes an owner’s 1983 1.9 L Waterboxer running roughly when cold but normally after warming up; it records the symptom and discussion, not a universal cause or fix. Identify the engine code and model year before using parts or service information.

• engine
• water-cooled

English · machine-assisted draft

An engine that rejects heat directly to moving air rather than circulating liquid coolant. Gerry’s spark-plug reference separates bus applications by engine code and period: ED/GD/GE for 1975–1979 and CV for 1980–1983, including California models. A May 2002 Gerry discussion titled “83 Air Cooled - Production dates” concerns an owner’s September 1983 Westfalia and the difficulty of finding comparable 1983 examples; it is a period-specific production question, not a universal fitment chart.

• engine
• air-cooled

English · machine-assisted draft

The electronic control unit (ECU) is part of Volkswagen’s Digifant fuel-injection and engine-management system. Gerry’s 1986–1991 technical bulletin index distinguishes these applications from the earlier Digijet years. In a January 1999 list thread, an owner of a 1986 Westfalia reported that the engine quit after cooling-system bleeding and asked whether fuel starvation or a failed Digifant component was involved; the thread records a troubleshooting question, not a confirmed diagnosis. Check engine code and market before identifying an ECU.

• vanagon
• ecu