What is the electric plug socket under my golf bonnet?

To one side of the engine on my 1995 vw golf 1.9tdi is what appears to be a 2pin plug socket.I believe the car was brought over here from Germany by a serviceman.Is this something to do with heating the car on cold mornings similar to some Swedish makes?What is the electric plug socket under my golf bonnet?Trace the wires back from the plug to see if they go into a fitting on the engine block. If they do, you have a "block heater " that you can connect with a extension cord, to the house system, to warm the engine before starting it.



I'm going to assume, that you live in the UK ?



If that is the case, don't bother with plugging in the block heater . unless the overnight temperature is going to be minus 10 C or colder. It is a nice thing to have, but in most British winters, it is not needed.



I live in Canada, where block heaters really ARE needed, and in the northern parts of this country, there are electric outlets on the main streets, attached to the parking meters, so you can plug in your block heater, while you go shopping.



The block heater warms the engine and the engine oil, to reduce " dry start wear " in really cold conditions, such as minus 20 C and colder. As a standard in Canada, we have our engine coolant mixed with anti freeze to stay liquid down to minus 40 C. I bet that your car's cooling system is not nearly as well protected, is it ?



Jim B. Toronto. Ontario. Canada.