Date:         Fri, 21 Mar 2003 12:45:24 -0800
Reply-To:     prb <prb@TELEVAR.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         prb <prb@TELEVAR.COM>
Subject:      Vana's Blues
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

My '85 GL (2WD, manual, no AC) "VanaBlue" has been having increasing
problems with hesitation.  From reading around here and comparing my
symptoms, I started to think it could be sucking air somewhere or maybe
clogs in the fuel delivery somewhere (didn't seem like Intermittent
Syndrome)

Local Mechanic (good guy, but not VW specific) here in boondocks indeed
found some loose areas on the "air inlet hose" and also found my coil looks
bad and the plug wire coming off it was all screwed. I did new wires last
year, but this must have wiggled off some and then the arc-ing just tore it
up, as well as the connecting point on the coil. He cleaned up the
realtively new plugs as they were a little greasy (running rich at times)

So I need a coil and an inlet hose.  Best bets on those? New coil?

And I have been listening over the months here to people saying "replace
those fuel lines and prevent engine fires" and so I told Mechanic to please
look carefully at that-- I was getting a nervous feeling.  Sure enough, one
broke open as he was wiggling to inspect. Talk about lucky (that it didn't
happen until then.)

So I would like to replace all fuel hoses.  Someone said there's a kit for
this?

Also, what related stuff might I consider doing while I'm ordering parts
and the the van is in the shop?  I'd hate for, say, some $12 part to puke
on me in the fuel delivery system a couple months from now because I was
too ignorant to catch that this was an ideal time to take care of it.

Mechanic says go for a new oxy sensor, and think about the fuel filters.
There are two. I replaced the cheaper filter (square plastic box housing) a
year ago when I did plugs and wires. That other one is expensive-- are
there cleanable ones? or do you just replace it? and how do you know it's
time?

Thanks for any thoughts,

Patrice
and "VanaBlue"


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