Date:         Mon, 12 Jan 2004 03:08:34 -0600
Reply-To:     Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      rich running when cold, slow warm up
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

My 87 Vanagon has been running really rich recently when it first is
started.  Runs so bad, I can hardly keep it running, and have to hold
the pedal to the floor to restart it just like a flooded carbureted car.
After it warms up, it runs just fine. I'd suspected the temp II sensor,
but changed it and found that the old one tested the same as the new one
and several otehrs that were laying around. Also, I checked the temp I
sensor at the same time and it was also nearly the same resistance at
the same temperature. Also, I've put on a new ground wire at the left
head to body location and put on a new oxy sensor recently.
Any ideas what could be wrong?
Also, this car warms up very slowly, or a least the heater is very slow
to put out heat, I've had the car for 13 years and thought that all
waterboxers must be that way till I got our 91. It puts out heat almost
instantly (within 2 or 3 blocks of in-town driving, even at near 0 F
temperatures. (The diesel Vanagon heater puts out heat really well,
too.)  I just thought it was a design flaw in the waterboxers. It's not
that the heater doesn't put out heat, it just takes about 3 miles of
driving to get warm. I've tried 2 thermostats, but both were 87degrees
C. It's like there is quite a bit of water bypassing the thermostat
 when it is cold, but regulates fine after it warms up. I suppose it
could be bypassing somewhere else, like the oil cooler. I'd appreciate
any input the list could offer.
Al Brase
87 Vanagon GL, 91 GL, 82 diesel