Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 06:57:54 EST
Reply-To: RAlanen@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: RAlanen@AOL.COM
Subject: Re: Engine stops running at red lights
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In a message dated 3/26/00 7:37:44 PM Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
<< Engine stops running at red lights >>
Julie, welcome aboard. I'm a mechanic in Almonte (near Ottawa) on
Vanagons & Vanagon Westfalias and do own an '87 Westy. I'm gonna try to help
you out here. I may need to have some more info though but here goes
anyways. When your Westy stops running does it restart ? If yes how soon
afterwards ? If not what do you do next ? If is restarting when you try it
may be a problem with the key/ignition switch or some other fault in the
ignition circuit that resets itself when you turn the key/igniton switch off
then back on.
Another possibility is to look at the spark plugs, distributor cap, rotor
and spark plug wires. If any of these items are suspect I would change them.
The spark plugs should be changes if they are old, use only Bosch Platinum
WR7CP, expensive but good and will last for a long time. The cap and rotor
may prove hard to find defaults so I recommend just changing them, not
expensive if you get them from a local auto parts like UAP. The spark plug
wires are expensive and therefore I would only change them after being sure
all the other components are good and there is still a problem.
As for gas related problems, you do not have a carburettor but your Westy
is fuel injected. The fuel injection system is run by a computer which is
under the rear seat/storage area. There could be some problem here but
highly unlikely. The only way to know is to have a full service shop run the
proper tests on this unit. You may be able to do this yourself if your
mechanically inclined, have a multimeter and have a copy of the Bentley shop
manual which you should have anyway if you own a Westy.
One other thing to check is the fuel pump. When you turn on the
key/ingnition switch you should hear a whirring sound for a few seconds.
This is the fuel pump building up pressure. If you do not hear this sound
then there may be a problem with your fuel pump.
This is about all I can tell you without knowing more. One other thing
to note is there is a device know as the "Digitool" invented by List member
Darrell Boehler. You should have this and it will tell you many things about
your Westy's electronics. You can lean more about the "Digitool" by going to
his website, <A
HREF="http://scribers.midwest.net/midwesty/vw/Vanagon/DigiFantTool/">Digifant
Tool</A> .
To learn more about me and my Vanagon related business please visit my
website, <A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html">Frank Condelli
& Associates</A> and follow the Mechanics link.
Cheers
Frank Condelli
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains
STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems
Almonte, On
Visit me on the web.......> <A
HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html">Frank Condelli & Associates<
/A> or
http://http://onward.to/frankcondelli
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