Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2006 21:53:39 -0600
Reply-To: Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Subject: Re: running problems, 2.1
In-Reply-To: <43CDD755.7010608@mchsi.com>
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List:
About 2 weeks ago I sent out this request for help. I got a few good
replies. two in particular were most relevant to my 2 problems.
Michael Vickey sent me an article about repairing the ground wire
terminals on the FI harness. I repaired several on the 87 which seemed
to be corroded. I ran out of terminals and will do the rest later.
And the winner is: Dennis Haynes!
He wrote:
>Most engine running problems come down to the O2 circuit or the temp 2
>circuit. An easy check is to quickly turn the ignition off and back on
>while the engine is still running. If the problem goes away for 30 to 60
>seconds, the problem is the O2 circuit. If not, check the temp 2
>circuit. Hard starting , especially after the engine is warm is usually
>and bad connection on the temp 2 sensor. It is extremely rare for this
>sensor to go bad, but the connection has a lot to be desired. The
>problem is worsened because the idle stabilizer uses this same sensor.
>Of the 2 wires on this sensor, one goes to the ecu, the other is a
>ground. Add another ground here.
>
BOTH of my cars were suffering from this problem. It seems like an
incredible coincidence that both cars would fail at the same time after
having had such a long run without trouble At least 2 years on the 91
and perhaps 4 years on the 87.
I'm still open to suggestions of how I can do a good job of cleaning
these connections. I wiggled them repeatedly and now they run better,
but I know I need to get them cleaner than this.
Thanks, guys!
Al Brase
Al and Sue Brase wrote:
> I recently changed engines in my brown 87. That is the engine I
> overhauled 8 years, 60k miles ago. It was running great, but leaking
> somewhat at the head gaskets. (plus it has extreme wear on the cam
> bearing thrust).
> I put in one from my old Silver 87 that I wrecked in 2002. This
> engine had been stored in the lower level of my garage where it is kinda
> damp. When I got the thing running, I had problems with the dynamic oil
> pressure system. The problem proved to be BOTH sensor wires were
> corroded off on the harness on the motor. LIkely as a result of the
> dampness in storage.
> Anyway, After I got it driving, it would start out nice, but as it
> warmed up start running really lowsy. I eventually realized it was
> smoking sooty black smoke. I disconnected the O2 sensor wire and it
> cleaned right up. Now today, it is running rich again, smokey, loading
> up.
> Any ideas? FWIW, I used most all the original FI parts from the original
> engine, not the one that was damp. The only parts I used from that motor
> were: The oil pressure sensors and wire harness, the O2 sensor, the 2
> temp sensors on the thermostat housing. The fuel injectors, FI
> (Digifant) harness, idle stabilizer, hoses,fuel pressure regulator, AFM,
> and ECU were from the old engine. (Which worked great and had been
> working great for a LONG time.)
> Now here's the kicker: This afternoon, my wife was driving the 91
> and it stalled and wouldn't restart. When I got there, it started and
> ran till I got into my own driveway. It WAS smoking sooty smoke. But
> this one wouldn't restart. Even after I took the O2 sensor wire off. I
> suspect something temperature related. Possibly even the Hall sensor.
> So, both 2.1's fail the same day. What gives? Weather? It was cold
> (high 20'sF) and dry. Both these have been super reliable. Last year,
> the 91 was in 22 states and 2 provinces. In about 20 days. 20 long days.
> Maybe thermonuclear pulse? I can accept the possibility that both
> cars are not suffering from the same problem.
> Al Brase
>
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