Date:         Mon, 8 Sep 2003 08:55:54 -0400
Reply-To:     vanagon@BILL-COLLINS.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bill Collins <vanagon@BILL-COLLINS.NET>
Subject:      Re: 87 AFM Cold weather problem
Comments: To: mst@AK.NET
In-Reply-To:  <86ecd5870e92.870e9286ecd5@gci.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

If it's "Vanagon Syndrone", the miss will be "cured" by turning the
igniton off and then immediately on again.  (that is, cured til the next
time).  The fix is to add a capacitor to the harness, for about $2.
Someone on the list should know where to add it. (or you can buy the $100
harness with the capacitor already in it)

Bill

> Re: "intermittent miss", a known problem in this area is often cured by
> the addition of a harness with some type of resistor(I think)built in,
> that is placed inline at the AFM. You unplug the existing harness and
> plug one end of this new piece to that and the other end into the AFM.
> Our 87 Westy Syncro had a hiccup that would occur after 1-2hrs of
> driving and it has been cured with this update. My VW tech contacts tell
> me that they used to have to splice in resistor wire until VW came up
> with this harness piece. The down side is that it costs about $120.00(at
> the Bus Depot I think). The dealership price is even higher. I can come
> up with the part number if you wish, I just don't have it in front of me
> right now. I believe that some call it an altitude compensator, altitude
> had nothing to do with our symptoms, but it definitely cured the problem
> on our van.
>
> On the A/T transmission that does not operate until warm, this is
> usually an indication that the internal seals are not doing their job
> anymore. the only real cure for this will be to rebuild/replace the
> transmission.
>
> Mark
>
>
>
>
>  I have a similar problem in cold weather, but mine is much colder in
> northern NH. There is a known Vanagon problem with the AFM, but I
> haven't heard anyone relate it to cold weater.
>    But I believe in my case a frost film is developing on the resistance
> material, and insulating it from the wiper. (This is what I found in a
> test in my freezer.)
>      When this happens parking with it idling always cures it.
> Stan
> 87 Syncro
>
> K G Gilbert wrote:
>
>> Dear Volkans,
>>
>> 1. My '84 Westy and I reside in the Mid-Atlantic. Once cold weather
>> starts (<40 F is cold), the van experiences an occasional,
>> intermittent "miss", while driving at highway speed. It usually goes
>> away, but sometimes we lurch off and on for an hour. Tuneups and fuel
>> and air filter replacements have been performed. Is the Air Flow Meter
>> a possible cause? Remember, this only occurs in cold weather, while
>> the van is at warm temperature. Exactly what does the AFM do? If I
>> need one, is a junkyard part ok? How much should I pay?
>>
>> 2. Again, in cold weather, the AT is slow to engage until the van is
>> warm. Is this indicative of another way I can part with money in the
>> future? A non-VW mechanic has told me NOT to change the fluid in the
>> transmission. Hmmm?
>>
>> 3. I'll be making a NE trip in October. What spare parts/supplies do
>> you all regularly carry?
>> I usually carry oil, 50/50 coolant, belts, AT fluid, brake fluid, duct
>> tape, etc. I'd just like to know what essentials are inside your
>> closets.
>>
>> 4. Is there an event on Cape Cod early October?
>>
>> TIA,
>> KGG