Date:         Sat, 25 May 2002 18:05:09 -0500
Reply-To:     Mike Boland <Mboland@BBNOW.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Boland <Mboland@BBNOW.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

hi all.

I "found" my problem

the ground wire from the 3 wires coming of distribrator (ground for the ECU)
wasn't grounded ( it was but not GOOD ground)
It supposed to be grounded to the Engine block.

re routed it and ground it to engine block  and it ran just fine.. no more
black sooty rich exhaust,  idle smoothly  ran great.
and it took me 3 weeks to find it  agghh!
heres my orginal post below.


I have a 1991 VW Westy GL I bought it last July
 > > has 107,000 strong engine. ran well when bought it.
 > > had exhaust leak @ pipe on #3 cylinder and coolant leak on water
 > pipe to
 > > / from water pump and cracked pin hole leak at small hoses at oil
 > > cooler. found PO had welded exhaust nut to stud on # 3 & 4
 > cylinders No
 > > idea why..
 > >
 > > I had to cut off the stud/weld with high speed cut off wheel to
 > remove
 > > exhaust.
 > >
 > > I removed the engine to get better access studs in heads to drill
 > / e-z
 > > out the studs. I got them out & installed new studs
 > > water pipe was welded up. ALL coolant lines & fuel lines were
 > replaced.
 > > new rubber seals were installed on fuel injectors (both big /
 > small)
 > new exhaust pipes / muffler installed. new clutch installed CV
 > joints
 > clean & re-greased.
 >
 > I reinstalled engine transmission
 >
 > It fired right up.. idles great / runs strong for first 2 minutes
 > or so..
 > then Idle drops....real low no power, runs very rich (black smoke
 > / soot)
 > out exhaust smell very rich
 >
 > I double checked all wires, vacume leaks / hoses found nothing
 > amiss. I
 > replaced the coolant temp sensor #2 still does it. it will not run
 > well
 > when warm next morning or few hours later It'll start right up,
 > idle
 > smoothly rev though rpm range strongly then 2 minutes later
 > suddenly
 > drops low idle, no power etc. when cold again it'll fire right up
 > run
 > strong 2 minutes till starts warm up...
 >
 > any one have any ideas?
 >
 > no work was done on engine itself. while engine was out. just
 > replaced
 > exhaust pipes / hoses clutch etc.
 > >
 > > mike