Date:         Mon, 7 Apr 2003 22:37:46 -0700
Reply-To:     Steven Dodson <steven@EPOCHDESIGN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steven Dodson <steven@EPOCHDESIGN.COM>
Subject:      Stall during long decent
In-Reply-To:  <200304071936.v942s7.6oi.37kbpqe@vespasian.mspring.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

A week ago we took 'Inga' our for her first long trip since rebuilding the
head.
We drove to Portland and then to Hood River, OR to pick up the new TDI for
'Inga'.
The total round trip was 1050 miles. I was grinding teeth for the first
couple hundred
miles but all went well. No oil leaks, no water leaks, good engine temp,
more power,
better torque. Amazing what the 4th cylinder can contribute when it's
functioning.

There was one thing that happened about two hundred miles from home on our
return...
After a long decent, I went to accelerate and there was no power. It felt
like the engine
died, but no engine lights came on (perhaps they don't on Vanagons). After
slowing a bit,
I down shifted to see if I could get her to start up. Still nothing. Took
her out of gear
and coasted to a stop. Turned the ignition off, then on. She started right
up. Put her in
gear and started rolling but by the time I got her in 3rd, she was
hesitating, lost power
and died again. This happened 3 times. On the forth attempt, success! She
started up and ran
like nothing ever happened and got up home. My wife on the other hand, was
another story.

I need to add that this was a long grade, 6-8 miles and that it was raining
hard.
I don't think you can flood injected engines. I guess it could have been
water in the
distributor but I water proofed it. How odd...

Also, I've noticed something else minor. She seems to hesitate slightly (the
van)
when starting to accelerate in almost any gear. On occasion it's slightly
more evident than usual.
Could it be the O2 screw adjustment? I just had it smogged and I know they
messed with the O2.
Just a stab in the dark. What can cause hesitation like this? Any ideas?

-Steven Dodson
Kneeland, CA
"Inga" the 87 Syncro