Date:         Sun, 16 Feb 2003 19:10:49 -0600
Reply-To:     Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject:      Re: 81 won't start in Colorado
Comments: To: lalofs@ENTERACT.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I wouldn't do anything or spend any money on parts until I did a
compression check.
Just removing the spark plugs and doing this should only take about 15
minutes and I'm betting on a dropped valve seat.
This is a worst case scenario but if it went from hot to very cold this
is often the time the seats that previously seated themselves will drop.
I'm hoping that it is something very simple to fix but I've been there
and replaced a few hundred dollars in parts before I got the bad news.

Stan Wilder


On Sun, 16 Feb 2003 18:29:16 -0600 Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
writes:
> Dylan Spurgin wrote:
> >
> > Hey folks.  This is my cry for help.
> >
> > I drove my 81 fuel injected van in from Texas to Colorado Friday
> and when we got in Saturday morning after about 6 hours rest she
> wouldn't start.  The engine turns over fine but will not fire unless
> we push it and pop the clutch.  Even then she only coughs briefly
> and then dies.  The very first time I cranked her Saturday morning
> she did fire once but didn't start.
> >
> > There is fuel coming from the little test valve.  We can smell gas
> and the spark plugs are wet after we've been trying to start her.
> We have replaced and gapped the plugs.  We have put a new(er)
> distributor cap on.
> >
> > Can we try to prime the van by adding a little gas in the air
> intake?  What should I try next?
> >
> > tia
> >
> > dylan
>
> I wouldn't add more gas if you can smell it and the plugs are
> already
> getting wet.  You didn't say that you have checked for spark.
>   Pull a wire off a spark plug, stick a screwdriver into the end of
> the
> wire and hold the metal shaft of the screwdriver about 1/4 inch
> from
> some metal on the engine. Hold the screwdriver by the end of the
> plastic
> so you don't get shocked. Watch for spark while you crank.   If you
> don't get anything, do a similar test with the wire that goes from
> the
> coil to the distributor.
>    If spark is going into the distributor but not coming out, the
> rotor
> may be bad.  If the coil is not producing spark, check your points,
> and
> make sure there is power to the coil when the ignition is on.
> Good luck,
> Larry A.
>
>

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