Date:         Sun, 26 Jan 2003 19:07:25 -0800
Reply-To:     Joel Cort <joel_cort@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joel Cort <joel_cort@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Help! my Van caught a cold and the coughing wont quit
Comments: To: Syncro List <syncro@yahoogroups.com>
Comments: cc: joel.cort@usa.xerox.com
In-Reply-To:  <75.80699dc.2b62740d@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hope you are all keeping warm!
I am soliciting the help from the list mechanics.  I have been having problems with my 89 2.1 Liter standard MV Syncro Westy with bucking and loss of power.  This is occuring when the engine has warmed up.  With the current temp in Rochester, that sometimes takes a while.
I can go about 5 miles and by then it is warm and the symptoms start.
It turns over at the click of key and starts right up when it is cold. It idles fine and slowly warms.  Once the thermostat opens and the coolant flows the engine idle speed drops and black smoke comes out of the exhaust.  Ok that's at idle.
If I'm driving, I can get out of 1st gear and by 2nd it is gasping for air without any power.  It revs. up fine if I press on the clutch so it appears to be a load problem.
I have a digi tool and have run through all the sensors.  Of course all the numbers look OK and everything is functioning.  Even with that I tried a couple of tricks thinking it was related to coolant temp, so I replaced the Temp II sensor, but that did not change the gasping for air.  Ok, I also have a spare AFM so I changed that as well thinking that it could be the Temp I sensor but that did nothing.  The O2 sensor was also suspect so I tried disconnecting it and the symptoms remained.  When I replaced the muffler last spring I also noted that the catalytic converter had converted to one big empty cylinder, so I know that that is not blocked.
So at this time I give up and look to the wisdom of this list for anyother hints.
   Replaced Temp II with new sensor
   Swapped Temp I and AFM
   O2 sensor is good and functioning
   Cat is non-existant so there are no blockage
   Points and Plugs are good
   Air filter is new

The next other thing I will try is replace the ECU with my non-Digitool ECU and try that.  Other than that I am open for any sugestions from this list of top notch mechanics.
Thanks all,
joel
coughing 89 Syncro Westy



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