Date:         Mon, 18 Dec 2006 12:56:26 -0600
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Subject:      Followup to no start, cutting out, fuel system worries
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

I've posted two posts on the strange phenomenon of my 90 cutting out
briefly, not starting, and stalling for good.

The first thing I did was replace the ignition switch after Mark
Drillock's driveway checklist that ruled out general ignition
troubles. A new switch fixed the not-starting problem and the
intermittent cutting-out where even the tach would drop to zero for a
fraction of a second.

But that didn't keep the car from dying and not starting and once
having to be towed. As usual, I was having two problems at once which
makes diagnosis more difficult.  I thought the remaining problem was
the fuel pump because the pump was noisier than usual. I took the
advice of several and went through the fuel system before ordering a
pump, and finding plenty of flow from the tank and plenty of dirt in
the fuel filter, I decided to replace the filter. That seemed to have
done the trick. I stopped by a FLAPS and dumped in a can of Heet and
some injector cleaner for good measure.


In my original post about the problem, I mentioned that my idle was
hunting between 750 and 1300 rpm or so. That problem went away as
soon as I replaced the filter. It's a steady 1000 rpm now, at least
in today's warm temperature.

Thanks for the help and advice.

Jim