Because several of the listers provided valuable advice, I thought I'd tell what finally turned out to be "why my '86 Vanagon wouldn't start". I'm actually not sure what the first problem was. Based on what I replaced, it was probably either the fuel pump relays or the starter. However, after I replaced the starter... the van wouldn't start and I wasn't getting any power from the ECU to the fuel injectors (so said my Digitool). But, ho ho, what had happened was that the 15-mm socket that I dropped when taking out the starter (and that I never did find again...) fell into the bell housing and got so nicely jammed that the engine couldn't turn over. Ho, ho. I'm still laughing thinking about the pleasant afternoons that I spent tracing and retracing current through all of the electrical wiring in the engine compartment. Ho, ho. Anyway, I finally gave up and trailored the van to my mechanic who said "The engine won't turn over. It's frozen. You need a new engine." And it was then that I remembered the 15-mm socket that I never did find... He took out the engine/transmission and, lo, there was my $450 socket. Ho, ho. I'm still laughing. But at least we're running again... Chris '86 Vanagon GL -- VA license "SLOW-VAN" '86 Vanagon GL -- VA license "SLWR-VAN" '86 Vanagon GL -- no license, used for parts "Part-y Boy" |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.