Doktor Tim, Thank you for your help. I am going to start prowling the auto parts stores tomorrow morning. I figure the minimum is cap rotor and ignition control module. I appreciate your insight on which brands to buy. The key for family peace is a working Vanagon as my Wife hates to get up early and take me to work in the Pontiac van. If I strike out at the local parts stores than I will have to see what the list vendors can get me for Tuesday or Wednesday delivery and figure put the necessary peace offering for home. John ----- Original Message ----- From: Doktor Tim <doktortim@ROCKISLAND.COM> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2000 4:06 PM Subject: Re: DEAD in my garage on New Year's Day
> At 12:09 PM 01/01/2000 -0800, you wrote: > >To: John Lauterbach <jhlauterbach@EMAIL.MSN.COM> > >From: Doktor Tim <doktortim@rockisland.com> > >Subject: Re: DEAD in my garage on New Year's Day > > > > > >Replace the ignition module, cap and rotor. Heavy loading of the cap/rotor > >contacts and the center carbon are evidence of an ignition module problem, > >typically. > > > Also typical of Ignition Module failure mode is intermitant function. Spark > sometimes, sometimes weak and sometimes not at all. Follow the Bentley test > procedures for empirical proof of fuction or lack thereof during event. > Just making the the timing light flash is conclusive of intermitant > function only. > > The undervoltage/over amperage evidence of the cap/rotor is telling, > empirical evidence of an ignition problem which is controled by the module > in responce to the Hall sensor. Modules fail with twice the frequency of > Hall sensors, unless it is the genuine Bosch module that the dealers don't > sell. The Bosch item is far less prone to failure than the Fairchild and > Telefunken units and it costs more to build in this durability and > resistance to attack from other glitches with which it has to deal. > > > T.P. Stephens aka Doktor Tim > Surveyor, Mechanic, Poet, Philosopher > San Juan Island, WA |
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