Date:         Thu, 14 Jul 2005 09:30:12 -0400
Reply-To:     dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Black Smoke and Poor Performance Intermitent
Comments: To: Adam Thacker <87westy@THACKER.CA>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

O2 sensor or wiring problem. Trace it out. Check the ground. In particular, the syncros ground the O2 sensor at the base of the oil breather tower. Plastic makes for a lousy connection. I have also found that an additional ground directly from the alternator to the body makes a lot of things work better and the alternator no longer has to travel through the case and heads.

Dennis

----- Original Message -----
From: Adam Thacker <87westy@THACKER.CA>
Date: Thursday, July 14, 2005 7:28 am
Subject: Black Smoke and Poor Performance Intermitent

> 1987 Vanagon GL
> I am having the exact same problem as the person below but when I
> tried his
> email address it bounced on me if anyone has any Ideas of why this is
> happening to me or who Knows Neal Helfman's New Email address I would
> appreciate a reply. Like I say I am having the exact same problem
> as him I
> just have not replaced all the parts he did.
>
> Original post here.
> http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-
> bin/wa.exe?A2=ind9607&L=vanagon&P=R28890&m=25707
>
> Subject:      Help:87 syncro running bad
>
> I am the consequential owner of a 1987 Vanogon Syncro.  I need
> help with an
> electrical/ignition problem that won't go away for more than three
> months at
> a time.  My van acts like there is water in the fuel and runs very
> rich and
> coughs black smoke.  Power loss is evident and the idle is very rough.
> Every
> once in a while it runs wonderfully as if a mechanic were standing
> rightthere.  Other times the power loss episodes are erratic and
> random.  When it
> is acting up pressing the accellerator to the floor clears it up
> with a jolt
> of power and accelleration... let up on the gas and it starts
> jerking and
> coughing again.  It has new heads; alternator; waterpump; CPU;
> plugs; wires;
> cap/rotor; air filter; etc....   Help me!!!!
> My name is Neal Helfman and my e-mail address is;
> NHelfman@aol.com
> If you know of anyone who specializes in Vanogon electronic fuel
> injectionplease give them my name!!!!  I have $$$$$ to spend for
> the correct
> diagnosis!!!   Thankyou r
>
>
> Thank you
> Adam Thacker
> 1987 Vanagon GL
>