I always wondered what the diagnostic connector on my volare was for?Just looks?(haha)Cause you never know with mopar sometimes. just kidding.

Diagnostic on a volare whatever you are smoking please share.

Lean-burn cars had diagnostic connectors so that the primitive diagnostic computers of the day could talk to the primitive engine management computers of the day. It's absolutely stone-age stuff compared to what we've got now (OBD, OBD2, etc.) but it was a start!

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

My 80 aspen has that connector too, but it has never had lean burn
I know the guy who bought it new, and I have seen pics...


I guess they could check the charging system, and things like that?
Maybe ignition???

IIrc, there are just 4, or 5 wires running to that connector, on my car, but I can´t say that for sure...

Are ya sure it never had lean burn (or "Spark Control Computer")? Some of the '80s didn't, but most of them sold in the US did.
It's entirely possible the connector was there on all cars, Lean Burn or not. Without Lean Burn, the connector would most likely be dead (no signal).
Charging system, only in a limited fashion, probably only on Lean Burn cars.

Ignition, not without a spark control or Lean Burn computer!

With Lean Burn, you could look at those parameters the computer either watched or did: Engine coolant temp, ignition advance, throttle switch status, that sort of thing.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Lean burn is that what the diconnected thing hanging off of an air breather is? For me to consider it to be a diagnostic device you'd have to be able to get some information out of it that could useful for diagnosing a problem. What did the lean burn monitor map, coolant temp, air temp, throttle position, ignition advance. Those are all things you can check with gauges or a multimeter. But they do have those cool no advance dual pickup distributors. Long live ODB II and hopefully the CAN systems that are coming along will work as good as what they are replacing.

The diagnostic connectors found on some slant six powered aspen/volares are not part of a lean burn system.

I've seen the connectors on both a 77 volare and my 80 aspen still has one. I can say without question that neither car ever had lean burn and both had complete and origional factory wiring systems.

Description: black plug on drivers side top of fender with an orange cover into which is clearly molded the words, diagnostic connector. I think 5 wires sounds about right.

The best explaination I have ever heard is that this was some type of connector used at the factory, but I have never seen mention of how it would be useful to an end user.
I've never put any time into trying to trace the wires and see what they do or if anything. Perhaps it was intended to be part of some other future system which never took hold.

Who cares, but it's not an indication of lean burn, THANK GOD.

I think it looks cool.

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1980 Aspen 225 super six

hmm intresting the start of computers in cars i personaly hate working on new cars everything is computer and all cramed in the car. Slant is a good way to go or just any old mopar for me but i guess i'll have to adjust concidering that is what i will be working on in the future (auto mechanic)

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Cuda Progress
The dart as it sits now

I can concur, since I just tore the super six out of a 1979 Aspen SE, and it had the diagnostic coupler, which seemed to be hooked to the EGR timer and a few other items, this car had no ESC, had Catalytic, and the wiring harness was intact/unbutchered running to a stock EI distributor...

Kind of an interesting car altogether...I also like the little tube for the timing light on the timing tab

neat things from mopar,

-D.Idiot

I had one on a 79 volare (\6) I had and a 78 volare roadrunner (318) no lean burn.

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1980 volare 2dr 225 \6 1970 duster 318 1978 dodge truck 4wd stepside bed 360

I used to own a 79 Dodge shorty van that was a 318 2bbl originally with no computer or lean burn. it had the diagnostic connector as well. just for fun i looked at a wiring diagram and traced where the wires all went. If I remember correctly, the diagnostic connecter supplied signals for voltage, RPM (tach), oil pressure (if equipped with a guage), and some of the EGR functions. Not a terribly useful diagnostic aid but better than stringing indiviual devices all over the engine.