Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 05:44:06 -0700
Reply-To: "Bergey, Dennis" <dbergey@SBMUSEART.ORG>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Bergey, Dennis" <dbergey@SBMUSEART.ORG>
Subject: FW: 1980 Westy ignition quits
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
An update on the problem Steve. Just found it yesterday after much
searching: Cylinder Head Temp Sensor was faulty, suspect torn insulation
around harness at metal part of sensor on plug. Mike A. of Cory Motors is
commended and praised for this spectatular piece of trouble shooting, in
only 2 hours. Cory Motors of Santa Barbara may very well be the best
Vanagon repair shop in California. I highly recomend these folks for any
problem, especially the difficult ones.
For the record, this was an intermittant problem that hid itself well when
trying to find it, and showed up every 2 or 3 hours on the road, usually in
traffic when i least needed it! Car would simply shut off for 2 to 10
seconds, as if someone had turned off the ignition key.
I replaced a lot of parts on the road to no avail: dual relay, coil, control
unit for electronic ignition, jumped the coil directly from the battery,
replaced ignition switch, headlight switch! (i was fishing) halogen
headlight ignition mod relay also, etc: everything possible except the
oxygen sens., head temp sens., and distributer hal sensor.
After Mike replaced this part, i noticed on my 100 mile roadtest ( I always
enjoy this part, I love these vehicles, driving is a real pleasure,
especially the air cooled models) that the oil temp was lower by 30
degrees, and the cyl. head temp (INDICATOR)on dash was reading 110 degrees
less! I thought this was reading high for several months now, but thought
it was a mis-calibrated gauge. It runs now right around 350 to 380 degrees,
outside ambiant at 75 faren. at throttle full open.
Thank you all for your input and trouble shooting on all my lists. Your
responces were very, very helpful. I think I recieved a total of 50 and 10
usable suggestions. And a major congratulations to Mike A. (also A.J. and
John, the other on duty first class techs.) of Cory Motors, Santa Barbara,
California, (805) 965-4581.
As I left Cory Motors, my Odometer turned 200,000! A new milenium? Love
these cars!
Sincerely,
Dennis Bergey
Santa Barbara, California
1980 Westy: Surge
See you all at Strawberry Music Fest or Burning Man on Labor Day 2003. (I
have tickets for both, cannot decide which!)
-----Original Message-----
From: Bergey, Dennis
To: 'Steve Schwenk'
Sent: 8/11/03 9:51 AM
Subject: 1980 Westy ignition quits
Hey Steve! I'm in Lincoln City Oregon on vacation till September.
We've been all over the place, Olympic Peninsula, Seattle, now heading
slowly down Rte 1 enjoying the ocean and lakes with our canoe. Left at
the end of July. May be going to Burning Man. Solo of course, not
Cindy's cup of tea!
Anyway, I'm having weird ignition problems. 1980 Westy just quits, like
I turned the key off, for 2 or 3 seconds, then starts running again,
like nothing happened. Some times one second, some times up to 10
seconds. If I pump the gas, the cars behind me smell gas, so I know
its not the fuel pump or filter, though I replaced both those, twice,
and also the ignition coil, twice, and the electronic ignition
controller, twice. Now I'm thinking ignition switch and then brain box.
My headlight switch seems hot with lights on, but car quits either way,
hot or cold, engine hot or cold also. I have a spare head light switch
I'll install today, but no ignition switch, which may be hard to find on
the road. And the brain box or computer? Probably junkyard searching.
Oh the joys of the 24 year old vintage Westy!
Could you forward this to all your lists and see what comes up?
I only check email sporadically, so if you get something important, call
me collect on my cell at 805.455.7655. If its out of range, like it is
now, leave a message, or better yet, text email my cell at
8054557655@mobile.att.net, 100 characters or less, any more will be cut
off.
Thanks Steve!
Sincerely,
Dennis Bergey
Systems Manager
Santa Barbara Musuem of Art
Santa Barbara California 93101
P:805.884.6439
F: 805 966.6840
http://www.sbmuseart.org
"Don't let your Dreams be Dreams."
- Jack Johnson
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