Date:         Thu, 10 Apr 2003 06:51:20 -0400
Reply-To:     EJHin@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ed Hinchey <EJHin@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Vanagon Syndrome
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

I feel like I'm at an AA meeting . . . . . "Hello, my name is Ed and I have an 84 Westy with VANAGON SYNDROME".

I have lived in denial for three years.  This is what happens, after about 1 - 2 hours of driving, the darn thing would just quit on me (like its out of gas or lost its spark).  I'd open the engine campartment and get the snoot full of gas that indicates a rich running condition and the spark would be strong.   After being towed a couple of times and replacing the O2 sensor, mass-air sensor, and fuel-pump, I added an ECU (I couldn't get the lower mounting bolt off the original one, so I installed the new ECU next to the old one). For a couple of years now when she became afflicted with the syndrome and shut off, I just moved the harness to the other ECU and off we would go.  Alas this is inefficient and kinda silly, so I've been trying to get to the bottom of the problem because I have big plans for traveling this summer in the Adirondacks.

After replacing all these parts and still fighting with the darling beastie, I discovered this list and have spent a couple of hours reading the "Vanagon Syndrome" archives and found two promising fixes; a new wiring harness for the air sensor and a capacitor installation.

Can anyone tell me what size capacitor and where and how to install it?  I assume I can get the wiring harness from a parts store or dealer.

Thanks

Ed

65' Bug
73' Bus
84' Westy