Date: Thu, 27 May 2004 22:11:46 -0400
Reply-To: "Georgios A. Stylianides, PhD" <gstylia@TEMPEST.COEDU.USF.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Georgios A. Stylianides, PhD" <gstylia@TEMPEST.COEDU.USF.EDU>
Subject: Engine Wont Start! Vanagon 86, 2.1
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
...something for the archives:
Problem
Van died on us while driving, without any warning! Opened the engine
compartment, and saw that the alternator was fried! I changed the
alternator and the car would still not start. The engine would crank
nicely but sparkles.
The suggestions from the list included damaged ECU and/or Hall Sender.
Thank you Jeff (VanagonParts), Joel Walker, Ben (VanagonCafe) ...
apologies if I forgot anyone else.
I purchased a Cardone ECU from Advanced Auto Parts, guaranteed to be
made/reman by Bosch, or something along those lines.
I cranked the engine and started! Excitement in order ... it worked fine
(actually, better than before.... very smooth) for no more than a
minute, then hesitated, and died again. Meanwhile white, bluish, smoke
came out through the exhaust that covered the whole neighborhood.
Started it again, and the same thing happened. Again and again. It died
again and again. White smoke everywhere. Neighbors said that white
smoke=big problems! Somehow, something told me to get and try another
ECU. I looked for a used, remanufactured, or new. I tried a couple of
used parts places, but the price somehow increased by the time I went to
purchase them. I don't go for that, so I left. I ended up buying a new
one from the dealer who gave me a 20% discount ... no questions asked
(for those that bombarded that guy a few weeks ago that nobody gives
more than 5% off). Of course I probably paid more than the Van is worth,
but what the heck, we love this Van!!!
Solution
Anyway, new ECU ... cranked the engine, and it started nicely, smooth,
no smoke at all.
I was ready to replace any other possible ignition parts, but it doesn't
look like it.
Just sharing because I found it interesting that the ECU would mess up
ignition that it would create smoke, hesitation, and finally "death"!
Here are a couple of questions
1) What would cause the alternator to fry?
2) What would cause the ECU to fry?
2) Would the alternator overload and fry the ECU or the ECU caused an
overload and burned the alternator? Why?
Cheers,
georgios
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