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Date:         Wed, 18 Dec 2002 12:05:40 -0800
Reply-To:     luke sponsler <spons23@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         luke sponsler <spons23@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Tough to start on cold mornings
Comments: To: danoer1@ECLIPSE.NET
Content-Type: text/html

<html><div style='background-color:'><DIV> <P><BR><BR></P> <DIV> <DIV></DIV> <P><BR><BR></P>Dan, </DIV></DIV> <P>I had this same problem in the last couple of weeks.&nbsp; Though it doesn't get that cold in San Diego, the van was having trouble holding its idle on cold mornings.&nbsp; </P> <DIV></DIV> <P>Last weekend I did two things and the problem has&nbsp;been resolved.&nbsp; I'm not sure which thing fixed it, because I did them on the same day.&nbsp; </P> <DIV></DIV> <P>First make sure the coil (the spark plug wire that is not attached to the sparl plugs) is firmly plugged in.&nbsp; Mine was&nbsp;barely connected which also caused my tac to jump around on&nbsp;bumbs.</P> <DIV></DIV> <P>If that looks fine,&nbsp;try rerplacing the&nbsp;<STRONG><U>BLUE</U></STRONG>&nbsp;temp sensor (I'm not sure if it is calle the Temp I or Temp II sensor).&nbsp; I ordered mine from Volks Cafe for $12.50.&nbsp; It is easy to do but kinda messy.&nbsp;&nbsp;Be sure to be careful or wear googles so as not to coolant in your eyes.&nbsp; At the time i changed it my coolant was already&nbsp;drained (I was&nbsp;also replacing a leaking hose at the time) so only a little collant came out when I pulled the&nbsp;blue temp sensor.&nbsp;&nbsp;<U>You may want to ask others on the list if it is mandatory to drain the collnat to replace this part.</U>&nbsp; You will find the part&nbsp;underneath the car on the right side attached to the thermostat.&nbsp; All you have to do is&nbsp;take&nbsp;some plyers and remove the two pins that hold it in place.&nbsp; After I took mine out the old sensor looked orangish-brown, so maybe that was a sign that it had failed.&nbsp; </P> <DIV></DIV> <P>I hope this helps.&nbsp;&nbsp;The whole job (unless you must drain the coolant) will take less time that reading this email).</P> <DIV></DIV> <P>Later,</P> <DIV></DIV> <P>luke&nbsp;</P> <DIV></DIV> <P>88 westy&nbsp;zorbus&nbsp;&nbsp;</P> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>----Original Message Follows---- <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>From: Dan Erlandson <DANOER1@ECLIPSE.NET> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>Reply-To: Dan Erlandson <DANOER1@ECLIPSE.NET> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>Subject: Tough to start on cold mornings <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2002 13:26:38 -0500 <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>So it was about 16 o F this morning in NJ and this was the second time where <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>my wife had trouble starting the Van when it was down into the teens. Don't <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>think we have had many mornings as cold as this one. The other time it had <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>trouble was about 2 weeks ago. The van has been starting and running fine <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>otherwise. <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>My wife tells me that it cranks, starts for a moment and then dies. I've <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>come out both times and gotten it started by cranking it and keeping the gas <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>pedal down. It has taken a few attempts but I have gotten it started both <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>times... runs fine after that. Before she finally starts it sounds as if <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>the engine is stuttering.. trying to start, but doesn't quite catch. Turn <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>the key and it cranks normally and then skip, skip skip as it tries to <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>start. <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>I ran some fuel injector cleaner through last time this happened... and just <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>last night the gas tank was down very low... into the reserve. <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>My battery is good (I think) and is about 2 years old (VW brand), the coil <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>was replaced a few years ago using a FLAPS brand, and there is a Bosch <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>starter on it that we had put in about 3 years ago. <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>She has been running great otherwise. <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>Anybody have some thoughts??? Thanks <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>-- <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>Dan Erlandson <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>Flemington, NJ <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>danoer1@eclipse.net <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>91 VW Vanagon GL <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>99 VW Passat <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV></div><br clear=all><hr>Protect your PC - <a href="http://g.msn.com/8HMQEN/2024">Click here</a> for McAfee.com VirusScan Online </html>


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