Date: Sat, 24 Aug 2002 16:37:09 -0400
Reply-To: "G. Matthew Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "G. Matthew Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Organization: Bulley-Hewlett
Subject: Re: van still won't start
In-Reply-To: <200208241935.g7OJZX9e004246@mail.aros.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
BTDT.
All the symptoms of filthy contacts in the double relay (black box on
the firewall a the front/driver's edge of the motorbox).
If you are REALLY handy with delicate things, remove it, disassemble,
dress the contacts, reassemble, and hope for the best. If you are not
handy or if that doesn't work, new double relay is only about $45.
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 John Brush
Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2002 8:23 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: van still won't start
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