Date:         Thu, 14 Sep 2006 23:12:57 -0400
Reply-To:     Sam Walters <sam.cooks@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Sam Walters <sam.cooks@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: fuel pump choice?  fuel filters
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2006091421580526@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

The original set up of the Digifant system (86+) was for two fuel
filters, one between the tank and the pump, just like the original
Digijet set up, and the larger canister filter after the pump.   The
original training manual states that the first pump was to "protect [the
fuel pump] from foreign particles" and the second one, or "main filter,"
had "a finer filtering mesh to protect the injection components."   It
also said that the two filters are "lifetime filters and do not require
replacement under normal circumstances."

The pre-pump filters were later removed by dealers IIRC.  So, most
Digifant system vans have no pre-pump filter.

But I doubt that VW really envisioned that people would still be driving
these vans in 2006.  Cars were treated as much more disposable items in
the mid 80's.   We are no longer under "normal circumstances."

But some tanks sure do get full of rust and crud.  My hunch is that
those are tanks that sat empty for some substantial period of time.

And now I ramble a bit from the main topic.

Right before I found the list, I had a mechanic sell me a fuel pump for
the 84 and that didn't solve the intermittent bucking problem.

(I replaced it when I was "green" and guessing at what might be causing
an intermittent bucking and cutout problem and because several people
suggested, as still happens, that it was the fuel filter.  It wasn't the
problem then and usually isn't now, though it sometime is.)

In my case it was the Idle Stabilizer Control Unit - what the part is
called in the Digijet training manual.  (For Eric Zeno - the real blind
one.)

Four different mechanics never found it or suggested replacing it.
Found the list, figured it out and got one from Bus Depot for $30, after
cumulatively spending over $12 - 1500 with these mechanics over a 2 year
period trying to get it solved.  One dealer and three independent shops,
all who claimed to be good at VW's.  But I have digressed.

But when I parted it in 2005, the remaining fuel that came out of the
tank was just fine, not full of crud.  The filter looked nice and clean
inside as did the tank.  And that van had been idle most of the time in
its last few years.




--
Sam Walters
Baltimore, MD

89 Syncro GL, Zetec Inside
85 Westy Weekender
85 Mercedes Benz 300D Turbodiesel - to become veggie oil powered

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