Date: Sun, 9 Jan 2005 18:17:40 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: Vanagon running rough
In-Reply-To: <41E19FA9.1010803@switch99.f2s.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Most likely you have a bad sensor or sensor connection-wiring. Start
with the O2 and the temp2 sensors. Check the archives for more info on
these.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Stew
Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 4:19 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Vanagon running rough
Earlier this year I bought a 78,000 mile 2.1L 1991 VW Caravelle.
Took it for a good test drive - about 10 miles everything seemed fine.
Ran it for a couple of months with no problems whatsoever and really
began getting 'into it!'
Decided to take a bit of a holiday round Europe (I live in UK), so
managed to get a week off at very short notice and 'did Europe' -
1350miles in 6 days (couldn't get any more time off right then). It ran
beautifully.
Continued to use it as my everyday vehicle and for weekends away with no
problems for a couple of months.
I then took a trip to London (350 miles). Just before leaving I changed
the oil, checked the plugs etc. ( I put them back in as the looked fine
)
Half way there, it seemed very low on power (It's the DJ engine -
112BHP). On getting off the motorway it kept stalling and generally
running rough.
Started to search the net - the first thing I found was about Oil
viscosity - too thin and the hydraulic tappets don't lift enough - I had
just used a premium brand multigrade and so I flushed the old oil and
replaced it with the specified grade. No difference.
The thing is - the ammount of power available varies from day to day -
sometimes running a little rough other times really bad.
It starts perfectly hot or cold.
When it is cold, it runs fine - not sure about power - seems OK but then
I never stress a cold engine.
As soon as it warms up it will start playin up - if you pull up at the
lights it'll idle for a minute or so, then stall. Starts fine again
though and just needs to be kept at about 1100rpm to keep running. I can
see no water in the oil, no oil in the water, and it seems to use very
little of either. I have seen no evidence of water or oil leaks. (so I'm
praying it's not pitted heads).
I've searched through every vanagon page I can find and can see no
symptoms that match what I'm seeing.
I had a bit of a breakthough though - ever since getting the van, if you
fill the fuel tank to the top it leaks (it was replaced by a garage
about 6 months before i got it - I have the receipt) and I have read
that the fuel filter blocks frequently. Took the filter off and emptied
about 50cc of grey sludge out. Put it back on and it seemed to run
better, so Iwent and bought a replacement - it ran a little better
again. However - it then slowly deteriorated again. Tried emptying the
new filter but it's clean, so tried it with the filter bypassed with a
piece of tube - no different.
I did have to change the starter motor a week or so before it played up,
but as it ran fine afterwards, and I've checked to make sure othing has
been dislodged.
Anyone any ideas?
Stew
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