Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2005 17:20:36 -0800
Reply-To: developtrust <developtrust@COX.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: developtrust <developtrust@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: capacitor fix mitigated buck, did not fix
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In addition to the other solutions for this problem (clean and extra
grounds, O2 sensor, adjusting AFM wiper arm, the hose from the crankcase
vent to the AFM, etc.) might it be possible that the capacitor was faulty?
I've had the capacitor fix for years and never a problem.
William
> Hi all,
>
> Maggie and I made a safe and fun trip to New Mexico (1200 miles roundtrip)
> and Bill Bones performed well,
> sort of...
>
> The dreaded bucking syndrome began so I stopped and soldered in a 15 volt
> 22 microfarrad tantalum
> capacitor that I got from listmember Tom Miller. I connected the positive
> side to number 2 and the negative
> side to number 4. Interestingly, the idle that had always surged, was now
> stabilized. The next 50 miles
> were a joy. No bucking at all.
>
> However, after about an hour on the road, just when the bucking normally
> begins, I got a diluted version
> of the same thing. It appears that the capacitor stores energy or
> something like that, and when the system
> needs it it is returned (not sure about this). The result was that
> instead of a bucking jolt like I normally get,
> I got a slow loss of power, and then a return surge. It is as if the
> capacitor is almost powerful enough to
> remedy the situation, but not quite.
>
> On the return trip, I got behind the bus and smelled the exhaust. It
> seemed to have that smell associated
> with a lean engine. Not wanting to burn anything up, I disconnected the
> capacitor.
>
> Of course, the original bucking returned, as did the high idle (1800 rpm
> after coming off the Interstate).
> The high idle is never a problem around town. It only occurs after
> extended driving on the Interstate,
> and accompanies the bucking behavior.
>
> Several questions:
>
> 1. Is the capacitor really a fix or just a band-aid?
> 2. If it is a fix, what did I do wrong? If a band-aid, what is the real
> cause and how can it be remedied?
> 3. Will a new AFM solve the problem?
> 4. Is the factory pigtail a better fix (albeit a more expensive one)?
>
> As always, thanks for your help.
>
> Warren Lail
> 88 Westy "Billy Bones"
>
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