Date:         Sun, 20 Feb 2000 16:49:16 EST
Reply-To:     Syncro86VW@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Branstrom <Syncro86VW@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Damp Van Starting Problem
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Had my first encounter with Damp Van syndrome yesterday?  Never had this
problem with my air cooleds.  We had 10" of damp snow fall and when I went
out to start the new 86 syncro it just cranked.  It has always been a quick
start for the 2 months I've had it even during the cold spells we've had here
in Chicago.  Luckily I had read some posts on the list about the damp
starting problem so a can of wire dry made for a fairly quick fix.  (Thanks
to the list I had this info otherwise I'd have been pulling my hair out and
using a lot of Christian adjectives.)  My question is, what is the main
source of this problem?  Is it just one component i.e. Distributor cap,
sensor, wires, black box or the whole system in general?  Will ignition
sealer work?  I'd like to get the problem fixed rather than by stock in wire
dry.

It was also the first time I opened the engine compartment in daylight a
little strange to be able to see the street.

Thanks for the help, Blitz