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Date:         Sat, 17 Aug 2002 10:19:22 -0400
Reply-To:     Dan Erlandson <danoer1@ECLIPSE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dan Erlandson <danoer1@ECLIPSE.NET>
Subject:      Re: O2 Sensorama, was: A few unrelated questions
In-Reply-To:  <000101c245f5$be286e60$6701a8c0@gumby>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Thanks G. Matthew for the primer on O2 sensor... will order it asap.

Any thoughts on the fresh air fan?

-- Dan Erlandson Flemington, NJ > danoer1@eclipse.net

> From: "G. Matthew Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM> > Organization: Bulley-Hewlett > Reply-To: "G. Matthew Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM> > Date: Sat, 17 Aug 2002 09:55:22 -0400 > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: O2 Sensorama, was: A few unrelated questions > > O2 sensor not important, eh? Just for 'clean air wack-o's' eh? > >> From a functionality/engineering perspective, the O2 sensor is eyeballs > of the fuel injection system. Without it, the ECU is practically blind. > > Think of it this way, your FI system has three basic components; > sensors, injectors, and a brain to guide the quantity of fuel injected. > In the category of "sensors" you have some that pick up semi-extraneous > data on temperature around the motor, air flow coming in, etc. which it > crunches into a firing solution for the injectors. > > The "final analysis" or QC for the fuel system is the O2 sensor. It sits > in the exhaust stream and measures EXACTLY how the combustion process is > working. > > The O2 sensor is the ONLY sensor in the FI system that actually measures > how well the system is achieving its goal of delivering maximum HP and > efficiency with each cylinder firing. The rest of the sensors are all > "preliminary" data that proceeds the firing cycle. Does this make sense? > The O2 sensor is like a QC guy at the end of a factory assembly line > with a hotline to all of the production stations in the factory, and > authority to tell each of those stations what to do to improve the > product coming out of the factory. > > It is so vital to the operation of your engine, that VW put a warning > light on the dash that reminds you to replace it every 30k. VW is not a > warning-light-happy company. Failing to replace The 02 sensor eventually > leads to the van reverting to the very lame "limp home" program in the > EFI ECU. This limp home program has been known to ruin/melt catalytic > converters because it tends to run very rich. It also fouls plugs, and > yields poor mileage, and poor performance. > > So, if you haven't splurged for the amassively expensive ($30) O2 > sensor, stop being a cheapskate. Go get the sensor. > > > 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 Dan Erlandson > Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2002 9:18 AM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: A few unrelated questions > > Hey everyone, > > Just joined the list... great info. > > My 91 GL has 167 K on it with a rebuilt engine and rebuilt auto tranny. > It > is running fine these days, but a couple of questions > > 1. I seem to read in the postings that the O2 sensor has some impact on > the > smoothness of the running of the engine. I guess I thought it was just > an > emissions issue. If it has never been replaced then I should replace > it? > > 2. The fresh air fan, a.k.a. defroster/heater fan for the front seems > to > have gone bad. Smoke and bad fumes when you turn it on. No problem as > long > as it isn't on. Bentley indicates that you have to pull the whole > dashboard > in order to access the fan. I ordered one from VW and am close to > starting > the procedure. Any advice? Also picked up a couple of the shear bolts > that > hold the steering column to the dash (as per Bentley). > > > -- Dan Erlandson > Flemington, NJ >> danoer1@eclipse.net >


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