Date: Sat, 17 Aug 2002 08:55:29 -0500
Reply-To: tmarciniak@WI.RR.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tim Marciniak <tmarciniak@WI.RR.COM>
Subject: Re: Loss of Power False Air Oil Breather?
In-Reply-To: <LAW2-F74c7i2vsf0pQb0000cf16@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ; format="flowed"
Hi John,
I know this temp sensor can cause major havoc with the engine. A few
years ago a mechanic that worked on this van did not have the
connector in all the way and the van ran terrible. When I got home I
just touched the wires and the connector just dropped off the sensor,
when I put it back it ran just fine. This will be the first thing I
attack next.
Thanks and Good Luck with your van
Tim
>I have the same symptons...and it looks like the temp sensor may be
>my problem (I hope), Like Laurence said. I'll let everyone know on
>monday... The sensor is something I would definately check.that and
>fuel pressure....good luck., John
>
>
>
>
>John Cianci
>Research Assistant
>Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
>Clarkson University
>315-268-3776
> >From: Laurence Smith
> >Reply-To: Laurence Smith
> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >Subject: Re: Loss of Power False Air Oil Breather?
> >Date: Sat, 17 Aug 2002 00:12:12 -0400
> >
> >This may be a stretch ... but could the removal of your temp II sender
> >on the thermostat housing somehow caused it some damage. If so, then
> >the resistence readings for the coolant temp as it warms up could be
> >wrong. The computer might think the engine is colder that it really
> >is and set the timing incorrectly - which would cause a power loss
> >problem.
> >
> >Laurence Smith
> >Hamilton, ON
> >90 Westy (fanumbos)
> >
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Vanagon Mailing List
> > > [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> > > Of Tim Marciniak
> > > Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2002 12:00 AM
> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > Subject: Re: Loss of Power False Air Oil Breather?
> > >
> > >
> > > Here is more on symptoms:
> > >
> > > Van starts fine. When I press on the accelerator there is a
> > > hesitation before rpms increase on the tach, maybe a 1/2 second or
> > > so. This happens if engine is cold or warm. Normally when
> > > I press on
> > > the accelerator the van is very responsive immediately.
> > > It idles at
> > > 800rpm but it does not sound right, it sounds like it is missing to
> > > me but when I pulled the old spark plugs they looked ok to me, light
> > > tan to gray, they were not carboned up or oil fouled, I concluded no
> > > ignition miss, has to be something else. It does not stall. Sound
> > > out of the tail pipe is not right. I guess the most
> > > obvious thing is
> > > the hesitation on acceleration and somewhat lumpy thumpy idle sound
> > > from the tail pipe whe I stand near it and listen attentively.
> > > Usually the exhaust sound is very pleasant to my ear when
> > > its running
> > > right.
> > >
> > > Another thing to mention, about two weeks ago we went camping with
> > > the van. Two days before we were to leave the metal water pipe on
> > > the drivers side of engine that goes from thermostat
> > > housing to water
> > > pump springs a leak. The day we are set to leave I replace
> > > this pipe
> > > and off we go on a 3.5 hr drive up to Northern Wisconsin. The only
> > > electrical connection I disconnected was the temp sensor from the
> > > thermostat housing when replacing this pipe. Van runs fine all the
> > > way, I did note that it was running slightly cooler than usual, just
> > > below the red LED. So 10:30 PM we pull into the park we are camping
> > > in to check in at the park office. Van is off maybe 10 minutes. We
> > > come back out it starts up I go about 10 feet and cant get
> > > the rpm to
> > > go much over 2000 and it stalls. I'm really confused now becasue it
> > > just ran wonderfully for the last 200miles. So I sit and
> > > let it idle
> > > erratically for a few minutes and then the idle finally smoothes out
> > > and I book for our campsite--what a way to start a 5 day camp trip.
> > > The following morning I start the van just to see how it sounds and
> > > its running but not its usual perfect self. So I open up the engine
> > > compartment and start to check things out. I immediately find the
> > > braided ground strap that goes from the block to the gound
> > > point near
> > > the coil is almost split, so I secure with some duct tape and hope
> > > that will hold till I get home--it did. I also disconnected the O2
> > > sensor to see if that helped and it seemed to. I drove the van for
> > > the next five days and it got us back home 65mph all the way. A
> > > little nerve racking but the van ran pretty good considering the
> > > initial problem I had our first night up north.
> > >
> > > When we get home from camping the first thing I do is replace the
> > > ground strap. At this point I think the van was running fine but I
> > > cant be positive now. About 3 or 4 days ago I noticed this
> > > hesitation and thats when I did the tuneup and started
> > > poking around.
> > > Last fall I put a new exhaust system on the van including new O2
> > > sensor and catalytic convertor. It has run fine all winter, spring
> > > and summer and only since the camping trip has it started to act up.
> > >
> > > Because the vanagon is so under powered I sometimes mistake a real
> > > problem for its assumed lack of power or vice versa. Its when I
> > > really stop and listen that I pick up on problems like this
> > > one. The
> > > van has 100k miles on it and all maintenance has been done
> > > by me with
> > > the exception of the heads that were replaced at 70k by a very
> > > competent vanagon mechanic.
> > >
> > > I have not measured fuel pressure yet thinking it was
> > > ignition system
> > > related. Nor did I check ignition timing or even play with that in
> > > two years.
> > >
> > > Thanks for your reply as I contemplate my next step.
> > >
> > > Tim Marciniak
> > > 90 Multivan (Automatic)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > >Tell us more about the symptoms and less about the things you did.
> > > >Loss of power when? Under load? On acceleration? All circumstances?
> > > >Does it idle correctly?
> > > >Is the fuel pressure correct?
> > > >When did this loss of power start, all at once following some DIY
> > > >futzing, or gradually over time? If it started all at
> > > once, what did you
> > > >do just prior? If gradually, what has been different in the
> > > >circumstances lately? Hotter weather? New gas station? New
> > > teen driver
> > > >with access to the Van? Carrying an 18-ton commemorative
> > > anchor from
> > > >your trip to the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial?
> > > >
> > > >From the tiny bit you described, I'd guess the timing is
> > > off, you have a
> > > >clogged filter (could the air filter have gotten wet?) or
> > > your Catalytic
> > > >converter is melted/fused and plugged.
> > > >
> > > >Developing business and guiding change since 1996,
> > > >
> > > >G. Matthew Bulley
> > > >Bulley-Hewlett
> > > >Marketing & Communications
> > > >Business: www.bulley-hewlett.com
> > > >AIM = IExplain4u
> > > >Phone: +1.919.658.1278
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >-----Original Message-----
> > > >From: Vanagon Mailing List
> > > [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
> > > >Of Tim Marciniak
> > > >Sent: Friday, August 16, 2002 4:31 PM
> > > >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > >Subject: Loss of Power False Air Oil Breather?
> > > >
> > > >New problem just cropped up for me with my 90 Vanagon. I seem to
> > > >have a significant loss of power both when engine is cold
> > > and warmed
> > > >up. Recent maintenace included replacing the ground strap
> > > from block
> > > >to ignition coil, cleaning up contacts on the ignition coil, new
> > > >rotor, distributor cap, new spark plugs and wires, new air filter,
> > > >recent oil change. Checked throttle position switch and
> > > this is ok.
> > > >Idle stabilizer is working. I then checked for vacuum leaks and
> > > >replaced vacuum line from fuel pressure regulator to
> > > intake manifold
> > > >because this line looked suspicious although I think it
> > > was ok. Next
> > > >I pressurized the intake system with air found a leak coming out of
> > > >the oil breather pipe. This is the large black plastic pipe that
> > > >sits on top on the engine with a line that goes from it to the air
> > > >intake hose just after the AFM. This black breather pipe is not
> > > >supposed to be vented in anyway to the
> > > atmosphere---Correct? Because
> > > >of this I suspect I have an air leak into the intake
> > > system after the
> > > >AFM (false air) which may be leaning the air/fuel mix. Has anyone
> > > >had problems with this pipe? Mine seem to be leaking near the top
> > > >ridge just under what looks like a cap on this pipe but it is not
> > > >removable from what i can tell. Any suggestions appreciated.
> > > >
> > > >TIA
> > > >
> > > >Tim
> > > >--
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > >
>
>
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