Date:         Mon, 18 Mar 2002 19:50:13 -0500
Reply-To:     Greg <kessler@OHIO.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Greg <kessler@OHIO.EDU>
Subject:      Re: no-start/bucking/stalling condition
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854";
              x-mac-creator="4D4F5353"

I also had the same bucking, stalling no starting problem  last Summer (while nearly 2000 miles from home and in the middle of nowhere).

I went through everything in the ignition system, replacing most with spare parts I was carrying--coil, plugs, wires, rotor, cap all replaced and no improvement...turns out that this tiny little plastic piece connected to the distributor was broken--this piece usually holds wires
(small wires coming from coil, not spark plug wires) firmly to the side of the distributor.  Mine were still in place, but slightly off position so as they moved (ever so slightly) the bucking, stalling, etc would commence as a result (I assumed of the electronic ignition being
triggered improperly.

I actually got a tube of high temp silicone and managed to get the piece in place and drove about seven hundred miles to where I could buy a new distributor and electronic ignition (after five boneyards and comparing many many Vanagon distributors that either didn't have the little
plastic piece, or had one broken exaclty like mine was).

It could really be any number of items in your ignition system, but the bucking and stalling you describe are exactly what I experienced and it tool me a good number of hours in a makeshift desert campsite to discover the real culprit.

Good luck,

Greg

86 Westy
73 Thing




Hi Volks:

Thanks to Terry K, Andrew Bell, Joe Romas, William "Developtrust", Richar=
d
Jones and the irreverent Joel Walker for their help. A great big thanks t=
o
local listee Jeff Palmer, who interrupted his "thesis-writing" to drive m=
e
to the store!

If I missed somebody, I am sorry, and I hope you'll forgive me....

Here's the story/saga:

I bought a new rotor and cap today ("Wells" brand - all they had) at
Canadian Tire, and installed them.

There was some moisture on the old rotor's body. Yup.

Van fired right up with new rotor and cap, and I drove for about 5 minute=
s
before the bucking started again - bucking and stalling like before. It's
puddly and slushy out, fwiw.

* I noticed when I had attached the plug wires to the distributor, how
little grip the distributor cap had on the plug wires - they'll lift off
with hardly any force at all. A sparrow could easily pluck them out., (Wa=
tch
out for that belt and pulley, Mr Sparrow!... ..oh geeze!)

So, I wonder if this is normal for plug wires - or if I should buy a new
set - I don't know how old mine are, but they're at least 3 years old.

* I also noticed that there was a convex dished plate that sat below the
rotor, and above the distributor body - this plate seemed to not have
anything to grip it - it looks like it should snap down - but it just sit=
s
there. Hmm.

Because my parking stall is full of slush, it wasn't safe to jack up the =
van
to put in my new fuel filter - but I guess a plugged filter could also be=
 a
cause of the problem.

All suggestions (helpful, that is) are welcomed.