Date:         Sat, 9 Sep 2000 11:48:20 -0700
Reply-To:     PSavage <psavage@SABER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         PSavage <psavage@SABER.NET>
Subject:      Could be Road Kill
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

History:  Bought '85 4-speed last fall.
Cutting out problem evident.
Always the optomist, changed the gas filter.
Next, my (then) mechanic swapped a small,
inexpensive part ( fuel relay or some such). No help.
Next, new AFM installed (this decision pre-List days!).
For four months no problema.  Then, while still driving in Mexico,
the trouble reared its ugly head again.

Yes, the van starts right up afterward.  But--
Picture this:  Two lane Mexican highway, no shoulder,
two foot dropoff.  Big rigs both directions.  Van cuts out,
dead in the road, & nowhere to go, bulging eyes glued to the rear
view mirror as Big rig bears down on me.

Picture this:  Four lane Mexican highway, highspeed Big rigs
both directions.  I stay to the right, but find myself stuck
behind an '46 International dump truck overladed with rip rap,
belching black smoke & moving exactly 5 miles per hour.
I see my chance. I pull out, but just as I'm neck & neck
with the dump truck, the macho coyboy riding the 18 wheeler,
sixpack of  Pacifico jammed between his knees & hellbent for
Sinaloa rides up my ass, horn blaring. Van cuts out.
Another road kill destined for a Big rigs cow catcher.'
Folks, this is no joke!

Lots of you believe the wiring harness is my solution.
I am thinking it over.  Mean time, the van's due for some
well-deserved front end work, cooland flushing & new hoses,
& then, budget permitting, maybe new brakes & batteries.
Then I will make my move on this harness idea.  Otherwise,
I don't know if my nerves will survive another winter south
of the border.  The fact that she starts right up after cutting out
is little consolation.  The question is, will I?
I bow to the collective wisdom of The List.
Phaedra
'85/4-speed Westy Wolf