Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2000 18:04:38 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Semyan <semyan@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Semyan <semyan@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: My first problem on the road
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Many people suggested checking the idle stabilizer (a la Bentley). Well, I
can't tell if that worked or not. It starts but then still runs rough. If I
turn it off, wait 30 seconds and then try starting again, I can only get it
started by pumping the gas. I think this is what happens when the idle
stabilizer is plugged in too. I may have failed to mention that I am at
~6,500 feet of altitude. That along with the cold temperatures may compound
my problem. I have checked the temperature sensors both in the air flow
meter and the coolant sensor and both seem right. I checked my auxiliary air
regulator and I can tell that 1) it's getting power, 2) once the car is
running, if I close the hose with some pliers the RPM drops (like Bentley
says), and 3) just for laughs, I pulled out the hose for the aux. air
regulator while my wife was cranking the engine (giving it plenty of air)
with no effect. I may just order a new idle stabilizer and see if that helps
(I hate throwing parts at a problem though). Also, I replaced the O2 sensor
about 1000 miles ago. Could that have gone bad?
Could it be a fuel problem? Because it goes away so quickly (2 - 3 minutes)
could it be that it is taking that long for the fuel pump to pressurize the
system correctly? I was planning to change my fuel filter but it is cold
here and the underside of the van is covered in mud. We are thinking of
heading to Vegas to meet up with some friends so I may try to take care of
it there. I got a lot of offers for help/and shop recommendations for SLC so
I may pursue that as well.
Bottom line, the van runs fine once it is started. It just starts and runs
rough for the first few minutes.
Again, thanks for all the help and responses I have gotten. This list rules.
Scott
----- Original Message -----
From: "Samuel L. Walters" <slwalters@earthlink.net>
To: "Scott Semyan" <semyan@HOTMAIL.COM>
Cc: "Vangon Mailing List" <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2000 2:15 PM
Subject: Re: My first problem on the road
> Scott,
>
> This sounds similar to part of the problems that I had with my van. I
> was not aware of this list at the time and spent lots of $$ as several
> mechanics guessed and guessed what to do with it. A least I found one
> who would take the new parts out and refund most of my $$ when things
> didn't work. He finally disconnected the idle stabilizer plugs from
> that unit and plugged them together, which is what is done when the
> wasserboxers are tuned.
>
> It ran rough when it was cold, but it started and ran. When I
> reconnected the unit, problems would reappear, not regularly but soon.
> After a while it got to be where they would instantly reappear. That
> was about the time I found the list and the vendors with reasonably
> priced parts. Now for under $30 I have a new idle stabilizer, and it has
> been running great for a month or so.
> Bentley says that the diagnosis of the Idle stabilizer (the green or tan
> plastic box on the left side of the engine compartment just in front of
> the coil and about the size of a deck of cards) is just what was done.
> Unplug - if problem disappears, and reappears when replugged, its
> defective. Get another. But I ran trouble free for months (@ 8) with
> it disconnected - through the winter even. I think that when it is
> dying, it sends (or fails to send) signals to the ECU and the thing
> shuts down in some way. Someone else probably can explain what
> happens.
>
> Good luck. As I am a real novice at this, you now have all of my
> knowledge of repair of these beasts that I brought to the list.
>
> Sam
> '84 Vanagon
>
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