Date: Sun, 25 Aug 2002 15:22:25 -0500
Reply-To: Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Subject: Re: van still won't start
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
John Brush wrote:
>
> Sigh! 81 Air Cooled, FI, half a tank of gas......
>
> Mostly just because there is no one to tell around here, I will take
> advantage of the community and express my frustration.
>
> Last weekend, I had to tow my van home after the no-start, and when it got
> back home, it started right up.
>
> Got some good advice and support from you folks, and checked out the
> suggestions.
>
> I did a compression check, 100-110, not great, but its been like that for
> at least two years. Plugs are fine, I haven't checked the fuel pump
> pressure yet. All I did was several attempts to isolate the fuel lines
> from the engine, by moving, and wrapping them in foil.
>
> Hadn't driven the van since, so today I figured I would take it for a
> drive, and come home without stopping anywhere and see what happened.
> However, when I saw the fresh corn for sale a mere mile from my house, I
> thought I would stop and get some. Took not five minutes to get there,
> five to get the corn, and it won't start.........
>
> Its only around 85 degrees today.
>
> I walked through the supermarket across the way for about fifteen minutes,
> and then went back to give it a try. Started, idled for a few secs, and
> then died with the same symptoms, which are cranking, and no sign of any
> ignition.
>
> Not sure what to do next, or what to look at. Just very disapointed with
> it.
>
> Got a little over half a tank of gas. When it was running, it ran great.
> No indication of timing or other problems. Ran like it always does.
>
> I cannot convince myself it is related to vapor lock as it didn't run for
> ten whole minutes before I shut it off. Its only about 85 degrees out
> today.
>
> Plus, I walked home without the damn corn, and now I don't have it to eat
> while I wait a few hours to go back and get the van! :-)
>
> Anyway, guess I will AAA it over to my mechanic and will report back what
> they find. I did look at the cost of a new fuel pump and wasn't too
> thrilled about that :-)
>
> John
Had a similar problem on a 411 I once had. Turned out to be the temp
sensor on the head. Sometime they become an open circuit when hot, and
then when the engine cools things seem OK again. Next time it fails to
start or stalls, take the wire from the computer that connects to that
sensor and connect it to ground. It should run this way if the engine
is warm, but would be hard to start cold.
good luck,
Larry A.
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