Date:         Thu, 17 May 2001 07:34:12 -0500
Reply-To:     Stephen Wisthoff <swis@uswest.net>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stephen Wisthoff <swis@uswest.net>
Subject:      1988 Vanagon loses power
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I replaced the engine in my 1988 vanagon when it
self-destucted at 60 mph in the middle of no-where in South
Dakota.  I was able to find a factory rebuilt engine that is
the closeth thing I could find to new.  It's a beautiful
engine.  My problem started about six months later when my
vehicle began to lose power.  It would run fine for a few
minutes and then when I went to restart it after letting it
sit about 10 minutes while I run into the grocery store,
etc., I drive it a hundred yards and it starts to lose
power.  Usually when I shut of the switch and restart it, it
runs fine -- at least for wa while.  Sometimes, however, it
is even hard to start and I've been stranded on more than
one occasion.  I've had it to three mechanics and nobody can
figure out what it wrong.   Of course, when I take it in to
the mechanic, it acts just fine and they decide there is
nothing wrong.

Shortly after it started doing this, the mechanic diagnosed
that I needed a new Oxygen sensor so I had that replaced.
It still acted up.  He then decided that it might be a
ground wire that is causing it to lose power.  He fixed
that, but it continued to do it.  He did a tune up with new
plugs, etc.  It still did it.  When I took it to a
dealership, they thought it might be the anti-jerk harness
so I had it replaced.  Still acts up.  Most of the time when
I am out on the highway running it at full temperature, it
works fine.  The problem is within that first 20 minutes
after I start it from cold -- or mostly when I restart it
when it is still fairly cool.

Has anyone else had this problem and is there anything
anyone could suggest outside of driving it off a cliff.
It's getting frustrating!   I hope to travel in it this
summer and would like to have this resolved.  I would
appreciate any ideas.

Steve Wisthoff
1988 Vanagon GL