Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 04:05:28 -0500
Reply-To: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: 2.1L Dynam oil press sys check
In-Reply-To: <F1155NJrUhhlzuYl0gH00009f5c@hotmail.com>
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Hi John --
At 11:09 PM 3/12/2002, John Patton wrote:
>The attachments depict a simple voltmeter procedure to check the 86-91
>Vanagon Dynamic oil pressure warning system. The Bentley shows this system
>on pgs 90.22 to 90.29 but the trouble shooting can be very vague &
>confusing. The Word document attachments to this email present what I
>think is a softer & "friendlier" method of checking this important system.
>It's important to know that I have previously submitted this information
>to the Vanagon home page and to Limbo. In both cases I was told that the
>information was either "too complicated" for the usual Vanagon owner to
>carry out, or that Vanagon owners are not concerned about the correct
>function of this system. I finally gave up. I would appreciate your
>feedback regarding the tests.
That's bizarre. Anyone who couldn't follow your schematics probably
couldn't pour piss out of a boot if it had instructions on the heel.
This would be my take for procedure, though:
A) Assuming you have a reproducible problem
1) Don't need a voltmeter yet. You can test the LP circuit by unplugging
the twin plug in the engine room. You can test the HP circuit by leaving
the plug unplugged, and grounding the HP (blue/black) wire [and running the
engine over 2k rpm].
If those tests reveal normal operation, test the electronics by removing
the ground and varying engine speed above and below 2000 rpm. If light and
buzzer come on above and off below, then HP electronics are OK. Reduce
speed below 2000 rpm and ground the LP wire -- if light flashes, LP
electronics are ok.
If you get to this point, your problem is either a sender or the engine (or
the last two feet of wire). Which sender is in question of course depends
on whether you're getting a low-rpm light or a high-rpm buzzer. You can
either swap the sender for a [theoretically] good one, remove it and
pressure-test it for correct operation, or check the engine oil pressure.
OTOH if your earlier electrical checks fail, you have to retest back at the
panel connector. If it's good there, wiring problem. If bad, panel
connector or L-board or circuit foil.
B) Assuming an intermittent problem
1) Plumb in an oil pressure gauge inside the engine room if you dont' want
to run it up front. Leave it there until that buzzer goes off, then go
back and read the darn thing. If it's reading correctly then chase the
electrics/electronics as above. If it's not, then guess what -- you have
an oil pressure problem, so fix that and stop worrying about the warning
system, it's just doing its job.
Thoughts?
david
--
David Beierl - Providence, RI
http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"
