Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2002 08:32:30 -0400
Reply-To: Laurence Smith <laurence@ALANASMITH.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Laurence Smith <laurence@ALANASMITH.COM>
Subject: Re: '89 2.1i digifant cutting out. Really need some help on this
one...
In-Reply-To: <171105540D7EE44FA177B599FEBA98F7D77E32@ta-exch.monitrax.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
The ignition switch, electrical portion, does wear out and causes
intermittent loss of electrical connections. This may be your
problem. Changing the switch is quite simple and inexpensive.
My switch wore out at about 120K miles. Symptoms at the time were
intermittent starter operation - it would occasionally run the starter
while the engine was up and running. Terrible grinding noise...
Laurence Smith
Hamilton, ON
90 Westy (fanumbos)
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List
> [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of Jamie Bowen
> Sent: Friday, October 04, 2002 6:05 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: '89 2.1i digifant cutting out. Really need some
> help on this
> one...
>
>
> The vans in a right state!
>
> Over the last week, the van has started cutting out. It
> used to sometimes die when pulling away from a stop, but
> now it quite clearly cuts out and then catches again at
> varying speeds. When I say cut out, I mean cut out. It's
> like the ignition has been turned off, and then comes back
> (usually in about a second). If the revs are low, such as
> when I pull away at a nasty juction this can cause it to
> die. This morning at at tick over the engine just cut and
> stopped twice.
>
> Nobby is my daily runner, and as this is getting worse, I'm
> starting to worry. It's already dangerous.
>
> History;
>
> Couple of weeks ago I checked and reset the timing. For a
> couple of days, no cutting out at all and better, smoother
> running. Also checked the resistance values coming out of
> the Throttle Position Switch. All OK.
>
> Last Sunday afternoon the van refused to start. I could
> hear the fuel pump or something going, so there was power
> in the engine bay region, but not so much as a clunk from
> the solenoid/starter. Got a lift with my sister, and when
> we got back 3 hours later, it started first time.
>
> On Sunday eveining, I jump started a car from the van using
> the battery nearest my engine. The engine was not running
> at this point. I think this is the leisure battery. I have
> another under my drivers seat.
>
> Monday the van started playing up more. Tuesday was
> worrying. Wednesday, Thursday and Today were horrendous.
>
> I have tryed wiggling my keys while driving (to see if it
> is the ignition switch), but that had no effect. I have
> wiggled various wires in the engine bay all to no effect
> (she cut out while I was scratching my chin after a five
> minute wiggling session).
>
> I have looked roughly at the inlet manifolds, which all
> seem to be in good condition.
>
> Anyone got any ideas? The next thing I am going to have a
> look at is the Hall Sensor on the distributor, but I would
> welcome any tips/advice on anything else that may be
> causing these problems....
>
>
> Jamie.
> '89 2.1i digifant (Nobby).
>
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