Date:         Sun, 26 Feb 2006 18:44:06 -0500
Reply-To:     steve vitale <spam@NEWSIE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         steve vitale <spam@NEWSIE.NET>
Subject:      Fixed: rough idle...
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Just wanted to update the list and let you know it was the TPS which I know
at least Joel pointed me to and Terry K insisted on....  I adjusted it and
now it idles smoothly.

I'm also going through the other sensors, hoses, etc and generally having a
great time of it.  Hopefully I'll get things running smoothly enough to
improve my gas mileage too.  Thanks so much for the suggestions, you guys
rock quite hard.

I didn't get a chance check into the oil leak suggestions but I'll let you
know if it's the oil cooler o-ring as a few of you have suggested.

btw.. I got this van ('86 7 seater AT GL) for $500 on craigslist with a bad
water pump and a broken speedometer.  some gears on the speedo just needed
to be pushed back into alignment and the water pump was an easy fix.  It
also has a broken fuel gauge, which I'm assuming is the fuel gauge sender,
but that's lower on the list of things to fix.  I've put in new carpet ($35
for enough remnants at Home Depot) and plan to build a removable cabinet for
a fridge, propane stove, sink and coffee maker... maybe a goofy idea but I'm
sure someone else has tried it so please give me some pointers if you have
any.

Hopefully I'll have it ready for a little road trip by summer.
Steve (in S. Jersey)


On 2/21/06, steve vitale <spam@newsie.net> wrote:
>
> I've been learning as much as I can about my project van, an 86 vanagon GL
> with about 150k miles and decided that now is the time to go to the list.
>
> first off the idling problem:
> When I first start up it idles real rough, blows out lots of soot and if
> I'm not right on it, it'll often stall.  I can usually smell the unburnt gas
> in the exhaust.
> After it's warmed up it runs really nice as long as i'm at about 1500rpm
> or higher, if it gets below that (which it seems to do after about 30
> seconds at a stop light) it'll idle rough, surge and usually stall if I
> don't put it in Neutral (where it seems to idle a bit higher and generally
> does fine.)
> The compression numbers are 120,120,140,140 ( left cylinders are both 120,
> right are both 140.)  I'm also getting only about 10-14 miles to a gallon.
> I've replaced the O2 sensor the rough idle improved a bit but it's still
> pretty bad.
> When i checked the timing the rough idle made the timing mark jump back
> and forth a bit.  I've seen the term "idle hunting".. which is exactly what
> it seems to be doing, so I'm wondering about fuel mixtures being right and
> some fauly 80's era electronic fuel injection component decomposing,
> wondering if i should do a  full leak down test and lying awake at night
> with thoughts of just pulling the engine out taking the heads off especially
> because I have to deal with the second problem:
>
> Leak around the oil pump:
> It hemmoraging oil right now around the oil pump.  I'm putting in about a
> quart a week.   I know it's an easy fix if you can get there but it seems to
> be a really difficult job to do with the engine in the car.   I'm sure the
> pump isn't bad, it's probably just the oil pump cover gasket, but.... I
> appeal list for guidance.
> Thanks a bunch
> Steve
>
>
>
>