Date:         Thu, 11 May 2000 13:16:59 -0400
Reply-To:     k1cajun@PIPELINE.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave L <k1cajun@PIPELINE.COM>
Subject:      Engine (2.1L) kills once at first stop ??

I recently had a VW reman'ed 2.1L engine installed.  Has about 2400
miles on it now.  Since getting it back, it has this quirk that when
it's cold and I start it up, the first (and only first) time I pull
to a stop, it kills.  This can happen when simply moving it out of my
carport to the driveway, when I stop to get out and close the gate.
Or if it was already outside the gate, then it kills at the stop sign
at the end of the block.  But if it killed in the drive, it doesn't
happen at the stop sign - it only kills once.  So while it's somewhat
related to operating temp, it doesn't happen repeatedly while below
op temp.

Now it's of course still under warranty so why don't I have the dealer
fix it ?  Well, they're 85 miles away.  If it's easy & cheap, I'll
save the round trip and do it myself.  But if I can't find it, I will
bring it back.

With the engine replacement, I had a new clutch installed, replaced
the fuel hoses in the engine compartment, new ignition parts (dist.
cap, rotor, plug wires), as well as stuff that can't be related like
coolant hoses.  But kept same intake and FI systems.

The mechanic left the O2 sensor disconnected - said it ran better
without it and that the O2 sensors from the 80's weren't very
effective anyway.  I thought this very odd, but it runs fine, getting
around 19mpg for 24 mile round trip commutes where 14 of those are
interstate highway miles.  I plan on plugging it in to see myself
how it runs on the sensor.  But I wonder if the sensor might have
anything to do with the killing ?

Or should I put on new injectors ?  I can do that myself much cheaper
than the dealer was going to charge!  Even if it's not related, maybe
I should do these anyway ?  No idea how old they are.  It's an 89
Westy with 137000 miles on the chassis.

I considered that maybe I was not stepping on the clutch before the
RPM's got too low, but even with paying much attention to my driving,
it still kills once and only once.  If I try to do a slow roll through
the stop sign (hey that's illegal!) with the clutch in, it still
kills.  But if I'm somewhere that I don't have to stop before it warms
up, then no problem.

TIA
Dave L.
89 Westy
87 Vanagon