Date:         Sun, 2 May 2004 23:53:04 EDT
Reply-To:     THX0001@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         George Goff <THX0001@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Starting problem
Comments: To: reglys@SYMPATICO.CA
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 5/2/04 7:21:34 PM, reglys@SYMPATICO.CA writes:

<< The motor was not smelling gas at all during all the process. >>

Germain,

Good observation.  If the Temp II sensor failed in the manner suggested, the
van would run poorly at all times once it got to operating temperature.  The
Hall sender in the distributor might be going sour.  In my experience, the Hall
sender can fail intermittently before it fails completely.  One symptom I
have seen is increasingly hard starting once the van has warmed.

Carry a spare spark plug and the next time your van is reluctant to start,
connect the spark plug to the primary lead from the coil and ground it on the
engine.  You will be able to see if you have spark when the engine is refusing
to start and, so, you will know whether the problem is in the ignition system
or the fuel system.

Also, during the tune up, a conductor or connector might have been
disconnected or damaged.  All Vanagons are now so old that the insulation of the wiring
and the plastic of the connectors are brittle and prone to damage.  One easily
damaged connector is the one for the Hall sender on the side of the
distributor.  Visually check the engine wiring and shake the wiring bundles while the
engine is running to see if you can provoke it to cutout.

George