Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2003 07:14:49 -0400
Reply-To: vw4x4@FYI.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Eric Zeno <vw4x4@FYI.NET>
Subject: ON/OFF TEST Re: 1991 Vanagon sputters and blows black smoke on
highway.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
Simple...... When your Vanagon is acting up, driving down the road,
simply turn the ignition switch off, count for one second, and turn it
back on.
This will reset the ECU. If the van starts running good for the next
15 seconds or so, you can safely conclude, that you have a ECU
related problem. In other words, a bad mechanical part of any
kind, will not be affected by this test and the van will not show any
difference in running. Therefore, you have eliminated many
possible problems.
Eric
Paul Nicklen wrote:
>Hey Eric,
>
>Sorry to be slow on this stuff but how do you do the on off ignition test?
>Many thanks, Paul
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <vw4x4@fyi.net>
>To: "Paul Nicklen" <nicklen@PIONEERNET.NET>
>Cc: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>; "emz" <emz@fyi.net>
>Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2003 11:16 AM
>Subject: Re: 1991 Vanagon sputters and blows black smoke on highway.
>
>
>
>
>>I've seen this problem time after time. I alway ask the same thing?
>>Did you do the on/off ignition switch test to reset the computer,
>>at the time the problem is acting up?
>> Given these people are "good" mechanics, and assuming all
>>the usual things have been checked, I would test the wiring
>>from the temp. sensor to the ECU. These break were the wiring
>>crosses from body to engine.
>>
>>
>> Eric
>>
>>Paul Nicklen wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>Dear Van Owners:
>>>
>>>I have a 1991 Camper Van and she is running very rough on the highway,
>>>
>>>
>losing power, sputtering, blowing black smoke and running way too rich ((I
>think)). The van never dies completely. This problem is intermittent and
>may only happen one day in three and 40% of the time on those days but when
>it does, it can get severe and it has been towed on occasion. Several good
>mechanics have looked at it and can't find a thing wrong with it. Now we
>are starting to play the expensive game of randomly replacing parts. It
>only has 4000km's on the new engine and has only done this since it got the
>new engine.
>
>
>>>We have replaced the air flow meter, O2 harness (two years ago), and it
>>>
>>>
>continues to do this with these adjustments.
>
>
>>>It is most noticeable up hills and on flats when there is a constant rpm.
>>>
>>>
>It is not nearly as noticeable in the city. When I aggressively rev the
>engine up to 5000rpm, it seems to temporarily clear the problem for a few
>more miles down the road and then it starts again. Also, the problem seems
>less noticeable when I drive the van at a higher rpm range. I was sure the
>new air flow meter would fix it but no such luck. It did seem better for a
>while but it sat in a snowbank all winter after the new meter was put in.
>
>
>>>Any advice would be great and I feel fortunate to have access to so many
>>>
>>>
>great mechanical minds.
>
>
>>>Yukon Girl,
>>>
>>>Lyn.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
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>>
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