Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001 18:46:55 -0500
Reply-To: Joe Romas <jromas@COLUMBUS.RR.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Joe Romas <jromas@COLUMBUS.RR.COM>
Subject: Re: Help! Van still dying
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Blake,
As I understand it when the idle stablizer goes bad the engine races.
However my 84 does not have one, a PO removed it and put the plugs together
and it idles fine if everything else is correct. So if you suspect it just
hook the plugs together. A zero cost troubleshooting tip!
Joe
----- Original Message -----
From: "Blake Thornton" <thornton@MATH.UTAH.EDU>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2001 12:03 PM
Subject: Help! Van still dying
> I've posted this problem before, but the problem is not going away. Here
> is what happens to my 84 westy:
>
> When driving (usually when stopped, but also when driving down the
> road), all of a sudden, I lose all power. The van continues to idle (not
> a terrible idle, but not a good one either, the rpms are probaly 600rpms),
> but there is absolutely no response from the throttle - NONE, it does
> nothing.
>
> Then, if I turn off the van and then turn it back on, things are usually
> OK. This morning, after turning the van off and then immediately on,
> things did not return to normal. But, then I turned the van off, let it
> sit for 1-2 minutes and then things were back to normal (only to have the
> problem come back 10 minutes later).
>
> When it happened this morning, I opened up the engine bay and started
> playing around with everything I could think of (moving the throttle,
> clicking on the throttle switches, fiddling with the spark plug wires,
> banging on the AFM, playing with my keys and the ignition switch,
> disconnected the O2 sensor) and none of these things made any significant
> difference. I could hear the flap in the AFM moving when I moved the
> throttle, so I know the afm is not stuck, but when doing this, there was
> still no significant change in the way the engine was running.
>
> Here is everthing I have tried and done since the problem started:
>
> - took apart afm and looked at wiper track. It looked fine but I had a
> spare (new) AFM and that I put in (so now I have a new AFM in my van)
>
> - bought and installed new throttle switches (both of them). I'm quite
> sure I have them adjusted correctly as well (but am also sure the
> adjustment would not be the problem)
>
> - installed a new hall sender in my distributor. Don't know if the old
> one was bad, but I have a new one now.
>
> - cleaned all grounds in the engine compartment. I sanded them and
> reinstalled. I have not yet bought any of that compound that makes the
> connection better, but I think the grounds are all quite clean.
>
> - Bought a new ignition switch. I have yet to install this, but I'm
> doubtful that this is the problem. I'm going to try to install the
> ignition switch this weekend.
>
> - Installed a new exhaust system. This can't have any bearing, but I'm
> quite sure there are no exhaust leaks.
>
> - my fuel filter(s) are quite new, but I'll probably replace them this
> weekend. But, this is intermittant, so this can't be the problem.
>
> - my spark plugs, cap and roter are all quite new, and I'll probably try
> replacing them this weekend as well.
>
> - my idle stabilizer is probably 3-4 years old. But, if it doesn't get
> better, I'll probably try replacing this soon as well.
>
> I have no other ideas of what to do. I'm might take it into the shop, but
> would prefer to avoid this (since the shop probably won't know what to do
> either).
>
> HELP!
> Thanks a ton for any help!
> Blake
> 84 Westy
> SLC UT
>
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