Date:         Sun, 18 Mar 2001 21:39:29 -0600
Reply-To:     Mark Ingalls <ingalls_mark@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark Ingalls <ingalls_mark@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: vanagon 1.9 L FI problems
Comments: To: TSmola@tribune.com
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Hi Tony,

Yes, I think the digitool is excellent. You can see the inputs that the
sensors are sending to the ECU. It's a PIA to build, but worth it. I bought
a used spare ECU in case I screwed mine up building the digitool.

I've done some hot-rodding with Beetles and advancing the timing 11 degrees
is dangerous for your engine is what I've come to understand.

I've recently tweaked the AFM spring trying to cure a idle surge problem. It
was interesting because going to far with the tension and the van lost all
power when coming off idle. It didn't have enough power to get out of the
busy intersection.

The AFM spring tension is something you may want to tweak, the 'How-To Do
It' was discussed in the archives recently. Just try out your changes in a
safe place.

I tuned up my van and did all the ground cleaning stuff in the archives. I
also added another ground from the cylinder head to the Van body.

I'm not an expert, just my $.02,
Mark Ingalls
85 GL


>From: "Smola, Tony" <TSmola@tribune.com>
>To: "'ingalls_mark@hotmail.com'" <ingalls_mark@hotmail.com>
>Subject: vanagon 1.9 L FI problems
>Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2001 22:15:50 -0600
>
>Mark,
>
>I noticed you did some mods on your afm.  I've been having problems with my
>85' Westy.
>It seems that after decellerating down a long grade, the van will begin to
>hesitate when trying to go back up a hill.  Also when I run the van at 5
>degrees ATDC I get a slight misfire, but when I tune to 6 degrees BTDC (
>you
>should try this for better power) it runs fine.  Does a digitool work to
>disgnose digijet for out motors?
>
>I'd appreciate any sort of comments
>
>Malibu Tony 85' Westy
>-------------------------------------------------
>Date:    Sat, 10 Mar 2001 13:36:49 -0600
>From:    Mark Ingalls <ingalls_mark@HOTMAIL.COM>
>Subject: Re: wanagon
>
>Hi Stefan,
>
>Greetings from the USA.
>
>The 02 sensor needs to get hot from the exhaust gas before it sends a
>voltage signal. So until the 02 sensor is hot, or if the 02 sensor is
>disconnected, the engine computer runs only on data from the other sensors.
>It has no feedback from what's actually coming out the exhaust. This is
>'Open Loop'.
>
>When the 02 sensor is in service, hot,  and sending data to the computer,
>that is what they call 'closed loop'.
>
>I learned all I know form the Vanagon list, and also from a book "Bosch
>Fuel
>Injection and Engine Management" by Charles O. Probst. It is published by
>Robert Bentley. It covers the FI system on the Vanagon in excellent detail.
>
>It sounds like your engine is getting lazy when it is going into closed
>loop, when the 02 sensor gets hot and sends a signal. Mine used to do that.
>I read the list archives, and cleaned grounds, cleaned the 02 sender
>connection, etc, too many things to list here.
>
>Some guys wrote that they run in open loop all the time (02 sensor
>unplugged). If I went open loop  I would find a way to safely hook up a
>wire
>to the 02 sensor, then run the wire up front so I could monitor what the
>engine was doing with a digital multi-meter. If you run a wire out the
>engine cover, be safe and don't let any exhaust fumes into your van. Also
>place the meter where it doesn't interfere with your driving and make you
>crash your Van
>
>I messed around with the AFM spring tension and found a spot where it runs
>better. Again be careful, after one of my adjustments I got stuck in the
>middle of a road because the van had no power. Run these tests where it is
>safe.
>
>Also I built a Digitool, so I can monitor the changes I made with the AFM
>and the 02 sensor.The 'digitool version 1' I built is here under the
>Vanagon
>section:
>
>http://www.loam.org/vw/
>
>
>
>Good luck, hope this is of some help,
>
>Mark Ingalls
>85 GL 1.9
>
>

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