Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 00:01:33 -0400
Reply-To: John Lauterbach <lauterba@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Lauterbach <lauterba@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Organization: J. H. Lautebach, Ph.D., DABT
Subject: Re: '84 1.9: 3/4 power and running ugly
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I have had the 3/4-power problem hit my van several times. Latest was a few
weeks ago and everything concerned (including the block) was new last
summer. I found that the #3 plug wire was the culprit. Connector to the
spark plug was heavily corroded. Wire set this time was Beru, but I have
also had it happen with Bosch wires. Replaced the bad wire and problem went
away immediately.
John Lauterbach
Macon, GA
'84 7-passenger
----- Original Message -----
From: "Shiva Polefka" <shiva@EDCNET.ORG>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 2:14 PM
Subject: '84 1.9: 3/4 power and running ugly
> Hello again-- many thanks to those that replied to my previous post. I
> realize I should consider searching the archives more extensively, but I'm
> already $300 and many hours in to this problem without any improvements
and
> would like to be tossed a bone. In advance please pardon the lengthy
> narrative and request for help that follow.
>
> My 1984 GL has been maintained attentively and pre-emptively during its
> entire 120k. Last month, as i ascended Wyoming's Big Horn Mountains (up
to
> 10000ft) , the engine switched from a smooth running hum to a rougher but
> regular throaty purr. The next day, back at 3000ft, the van continued to
> make this more ugly sound, and felt like it was running on 3/4 power --> i
> couldnt drive faster than 55mph, and it took a long time to get up to that
> speed.
>
> Wyoming's local garage monkeys claimed they could fix vanagons. They
> replaced the fuel filter, the spark plugs and the distributor rotor, and
> claimed the problem was fixed. As soon as i hit the road again however, i
> discovered that in fact the problem appeared to have not even been
addressed,
> with all symptoms essentially unchanged. Needing to return to the job
> however (rather than wait any more in WY), i crossed my fingers and
> continued, and wound up limping slowly but succesfully all the way back
> across the Western states to Southern California.
>
> That experience allowed me to log with some exactitude the symptoms of my
> van's malaise, which follow: in the morning, when starting cold, the
engine
> runs somewhat smooth and fully powered, but displays the infamous chugging
to
> a significant degree. After ~5minutes of running (after the thermostat
opens
> up?) power drops off dramatically, and the engine switches from smooth hum
to
> throaty purr. In fourth gear, at ~50mph, the "miss-y" (but regular)
> throatyness and diminished power are particulary acute, and getting above
> this speed is really difficult. A long hill here in town that used to be
> ascended in 3rd gear at 35 is now a humiliating second gear, ~20mph
> experience.
>
> Once this apparently temperature-induced transition occurs,
lurching/chugging
> ceases. A couple times while at highway speed, i've felt a temporary
surge
> as throatiness disappears and full power resumes. each time this lasted a
> couple seconds, no more.
>
> My local mechanic, who is widely considered trustworthy and experienced,
was
> unable to figure it out. He changed the sparkplug wires and added German
> fuel-injector cleaner, to no effect. If memory serves, his compression
test
> yieled 165 on two cylinders and 135 on the others.
>
> My internet searching has lead me to suspect my air flow meter, dirty
> grounding wire attachments, a need for a $190 "wiring harness," or a
vacuum
> leak issue. Any clues as to where to look next would be -greatly-
> appreciated. Thanks in advance-- my combination of frustration and love
> evoked by my van makes me really look forward to getting it back up to
full
> speed.
>
> sp.
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