Date:         Wed, 15 Mar 2006 07:55:24 -0800
Reply-To:     mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Digitool saves the day, again
Comments: To: steve vitale <steve@NEWSIE.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <a70655e20603150639o2f6a8caev37e2a7918e5a71ca@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I have had one of Darrell's original Digitool for many years. It is a
great tool for finding out what is right and wrong with any 2.1 that has
running issues with the fuel injection. I used it 2 weeks ago to fix an
88 that was getting very poor fuel mileage, though it ran fine
otherwise. With the Digitool hooked up, I could see that the AM was
reading higher than normal voltage at all rpms, telling the ECU that
more air was entering the engine than really was. The ECU then added
more fuel to match the false high air flow reading, resulting in too
rich of a mixture and excessive fuel consumption.. I replace the AM and
fuel use went from a suck 11-12 MPG to a normal 18-19 MPG. And the rich
smell from the exhaust was gone too.

I have used it before on numerous friends and acquaintances Vanagons. It
usually gets to the bottoms of things pretty quickly and saves you from
useless parts swapping and dead ends.

Darrell no longer makes and sells the Digitool he invented but since he
has freely shared the plans, anyone can duplicate it.  I wish someone
with electronic skills would offer them to the list again. I would help
subsidize such an effort if there are any takers. This is needed now
more than ever.

Mark




steve vitale wrote:

>...
>also, I'd be interested in hearing about experience with using or building
>the Digitool described here:
>http://www.loam.org/vw/Vanagon/DigiTool/
>
>or other ECU hacking related goodness the list would like to share.
>
>Steve
>
>
>
>