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Date:         Mon, 7 Nov 2005 13:56:43 -0500
Reply-To:     John Lauterbach <lauterba@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Lauterbach <lauterba@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject:      Re: Help diagnose Cinco
Comments: To: Michael Diehr <md03@XOCHI.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=response

Mike, I have had the situation where the wires to #1 and #3 plugs were toast at the connection to the plugs, but the wires to #2 and #4 were like new. This has happened even with Bosch wire sets. Also, take a look at inside of distributor cap. Let us know if it is carbon tracked.

John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Diehr" <md03@XOCHI.COM> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Monday, November 07, 2005 1:32 PM Subject: Re: Help diagnose Cinco

> Aha! The smoking gun has been found. > > Step right up folks, it's "test your knowledge" time. > > To recap: Old van with 150k miles, was running fine, suddenly lost > power and wouldn't start again, about 10 miles after a fillup. > After towing to a gas station started once, then immediately died > after about 1 second. Sounded normal when it cranked. Wouldn't > start again. > > At first, thought a hall sender problem, replaced distributor and re- > aligned the distributor gear which was installed improperly by the > PO. This turned out to be a red herring. > > Afterwards, still no spark on the #1 plug (as measured by a timing > light on the #1 spark plug wire). Spark observed, however, when > connected to the wire between the coil and the distributor. > > So here is today's super stumper question: > > Why would there be spark at the coil wire, but not on the #1 spark plug? > > 20 points if you get it here. > > Hint 1: It's NOT one of the obvious answers: The Distributor, coil, > hall generator, hall sender, and all wiring is new and functional. > 10 points if you get it now. > > Hint 2: Although the #3 spark plug looked a bit black, it was in > otherwise good condition. I had not as of yet pulled the #1 plug. > 5 points if you guess it now. > > See here for the smoking gun: http://xochi.com/vanagon/Plug1.jpg > > So for the next question, what happened to cause this? >


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