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Date:         Thu, 18 Nov 2004 08:34:59 -0600
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      Re: oh shit, here we go again
Comments: To: Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
In-Reply-To:  <E1CUmp9-0004vc-00@smtp02.mrf.mail.rcn.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Joy, sorry to hear of your troubles.

When a WBX simply won't go, the problem can be narrowed immediately to one of two things - Fuel or Ignition.

Ignition test. Pull a plug wire from a plug, or use a test light(I prefer to use a test light which I carry in my tool kit for my van) , hold it next to the metal on the engine and turn the engine over. If it arcs a spark, re-install and go to the next test.

Fuel test. Disconnect the fuel line on top of the engine at the "T" where it splits and goes to the fuel injectors. With a helper, turn on the ignition but do not turn the key to the start position. The fuel pump will energize and should pump a stream of raw fuel from the fuel line. Be careful not to have the line anywhere near your eyes. The fuel pump will pressurize that line substantially and there will be a good stream of fuel. All it takes is a few seconds to see if you have a good fuel flow in the system.

These little test are simple enough and will isolate your problem to one system, making it easier to begin the search for the real culprit.

Since the engine started again at least once, I would suspect a fuel problem, but the way the systems use electronics, sensors, etc, this day and age, it could easily be either system causing the problem. For example, a faulty O2 sensor could cause the ECU to try and run the engine over rich, resulting in a flooding condition, which would make it hard to start, even with good spark. But being sure you have good spark, and fuel flow, is the first place to start.

If you have a Bentley, it's worth a read on such matters. I have over time become quite adept in doing all my own maintenance, with the aid of the Bentley book. This development came as a necessity since fewer and fewer mechanics are willing to work on Vanagons. It's really kind of silly, the attitudes I run into, because the Vanagon is one of the easiest machines to work on in my book. I've had other vehicles - Jeep Wagoneer wide track -, Impala, Silverado Pickup, to name a few, and they were a serious PITA to work on. The van is easy by comparison.

Good luck.

Regards,

John Rodgers 88 GL Driver

Joy Hecht wrote:

>So, I finally get back on the road, made it from Boulder to Walsenburg, >Colorado. It's quarter to seven in the morning, and Matilda won't start. >She started once, then the engine died. Now she turns over but won't start. > >Suggestions? Anyone know of a decent mechanic nearby? I see from Larry's >list a couple in Colorado Springs (further than AAA will tow, I'm almost >sure, though maybe wrong?) > >Is this something that a non-VW mechanic should be able to handle? Any >suggestions? > > >Joy > >******************************************************************* >Dr. Joy E. Hecht >Consultant on Environmental Policy and Information > >Email: jhecht@alum.mit.edu >Phone: 1-202-494-1162 > >******************************************************************* > > > >


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