Date:         Tue, 15 Jan 2002 18:09:37 -0600
Reply-To:     John Clavin <jc@AUSTIN.RR.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Clavin <jc@AUSTIN.RR.COM>
Subject:      Stumbling and Engine Cutout Problem Solved
In-Reply-To:  <200201150506.g0F55xBD012283@txmx01.mgw.rr.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Thanks to all who assisted with suggestions about my severe
stumbling/hesitation/engine-cutout problem a few weeks ago on my 1985.

I finally decided to go ahead and replace the Hall Sender in the
distributor. I had replaced it once before several years ago, and was a
little skeptical that it had failed again. It had tested out OK this time
per Bentley.

However, upon removing the distributor, it was apparent that there was a
problem. The distributor had over 1/8-inch of end play in the shaft and the
impulse rotor showed signs of having rubbing against something. (The
impulse rotor is the inverted metal cup-like device with notches that
rotates between the Hall Sender head and the fixed magnet).

I don't know if the sloppiness in the shaft contributed to the
hesitation/cut-outs or just caused some damage to the Hall Sender head.
Anyway, I elected to replace it with a rebuilt distributor and the problem
has been solved.

In fact, with both a rebuilt distributor and rebuilt Air Flow Meter on the
engine, it has not driven this well in the last 50,000 miles. The engine
runs much smoother at all rpm's, has much better torque over its entire
range, and is much more responsive to the throttle. Why didn't I do this
before?

Regards,
John Clavin