Date:         Sat, 16 Mar 2002 15:58:45 -0600
Reply-To:     Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Strange No Start
Comments: To: Bruce Nadig <motorbruce@HOTMAIL.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Bruce Nadig wrote:
>
> Hello All,
>
> I have an '87 GL automatic. I just bought it. It had been running
> beautifully. Then, is started to act strange at low engine speed (virtually
> no power). Starting from a standing stop was almost impossible. Engine would
> cough, sputter, and virtually die. If I could finally get the revs up above
> 2500-3000 rpm I would be O.K. Finally, one day, I was unable to start the
> engine at all.
>
> I have done the Bentley checks for coil, ecu, Hall sensor, etc. I have
> installed new plugs, new cap, and new rotor. I am getting spark when I
> ground the distributor end of the coil wirt. I am not getting spark when I
> pull a plug wire, insert a plug and ground it to the motor. Seems like the
> failure is somewhere between the coil wire and the end of the individual
> ignition wires.
>
> Could the ignition wires be bad? I have never seen them fail like this
> before? Any ideas?
>
> TIA,
> Bruce

Like Andrew said, check the cap and rotor.  I recently had a similar
problem on my daughters Saab.  Turned out that the spark was going to
the center shaft of the distributor (ground) thru a bad rotor which had
no problem which could be seen visually.

Larry A.