Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (April 2007, week 5)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Mon, 30 Apr 2007 11:38:22 -0400
Reply-To:     Jake Beaulieu <jbeaulie@ND.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jake Beaulieu <jbeaulie@ND.EDU>
Subject:      Update: hard start, for 2 years!

Last Friday I posted a message describing a hard starting problem I have been having with my van (see below for original message). Thanks for all the great suggestions. Well here is an update.

I checked the lifters and the valves had zero clearance at TDC and stone cold. However, I was still able to spin the pushrods so they weren't super tight. I backed them out to about 0.006 and this made a BIG improvement. The van started much easier and the vacuum increased to 12- 13 in at cold idle and 16-17 at warm idle! Gas milleage improved marginally (from 10-15mpg to 16mpg)and O2 sensor is still reading 0.8V at highway speeds. This hasn't solved the problem, but I think I am heading in the right direction. I am going to check the valve setting again tongight and see if they changed at all after about 250 miles of driving over the weekend. The lifters have definetly quieted down.

I am thinking that maybe I had two problems: 1. air bound or missadjusted lifter 2. missadjusted AFM

Jake

On Fri, 27 Apr 2007 09:53:20 -0400, Jake Beaulieu <jbeaulie@ND.EDU> wrote:

>Hello, > >1982 air cooled Westy, Federal model (no O2 sensor) >Relatively new Boston Bob motor, compression 141-157 > >I have a hard starting problem that has been plaguing me for the last 2 >years, I need a fresh idea. When the motor is cold, or is warm but hasn't >been run for 10 or more minutes, it starts hard and wants to die. I need >to keep the throttle open to keep it running. After fighting with it for >about 5 minutes the idle comes up and it starts running smoothly. After >it is good and warm it runs great, but my gas mileage has dropped from 18- >20 to 13-15. I installed an O2 sensor and it indicates a rich running >condition. It reads 0.6V @ 30mph, 0.7V @ 55mph, and 0.8V @ 70mph. The >exhaust isn't warm enough at idle for the O2 sensor to produce a signal. >Another symptom that seems to point to a too rich condition is gas in my >oil. > >This is the 2nd or 3rd time I have asked the list for help on this. I >have done every test in the fuel injection and ignition section of the >Bentley several times. I installed a new AFM and Temp II sensor, even >though the old one tested out fine. I have a web of extra grounds running >from the chassis to the motor and alternator. My only new clue is that my >vaccuum is very low when it is first started (2-5in Hg) and comes up to 13- >14 in Hg at a warm idle. I would like to see this higher. I have plugged >up every outlet on the air plenum and intake boot and this did not have >any effect on the vacuum. I think I am going to pull the throttle body >and air plenum next week and run some test to make sure the throttle body >gasket isn't leaking at the bottom. Lifters are set at 0 lash warm, which >is equivalent to 0.006 cold as I understand it. Could my low vacuum be >related to the lifter? Does low vacuum have anything to do with this? > >thanks a ton, I am totally stumped and just about out of ideas. > >jake


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.