Date:         Sun, 29 Apr 2007 00:23:00 -0400
Reply-To:     craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: backfiring?
Comments: To: Geza Polony <gezapolony@sbcglobal.net>
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2007042821325588@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Well, i have been driving it around and found that the temp guage does
infact work, it just takes 10-15min of pretty hard driving to get it to
start to move....then it warms up great! Until then, there is no heat, and
this hesitation issue. Once warmed up.....it runs like a top! TONS more
power on the low end. I have been told that the vaccuum advance has
something to do with the thermostat, and the lower RPM's.....and the
mechanical advance is dealt with only on the higher RPMS. Hence, theres a
Vaccuum advance problem possibly caused by a bad thermostat. The fact that
it takes that long to warm up also leads me to think thermostat. I bought a
new thermostat, but it seems to be a very daunting task to replace. I had no
idea it would be so complex! I replaced a thermostat on a mini-van a few
months ago in under a half hour for the whole job......someone told me
6hours for this one! (including bleading the system, all that.....as the
water pump has to come off commpletely in order to replace the thermostat,
correct me if i'm wrong.....).

I hope to get to that soon and hope that makes a big difference.

-Craig
'85GL

On 4/28/07, Geza Polony <gezapolony@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> You need a methodical approach to the the problems here; it sounds like
> there are a lot of possibilities in your mind and you're sort of going
> from
> one to the other. Start with the timing, and pretend the thermostat isn't
> even there--just set the timing to about 5* BTDC, and make sure it's
> right.
> This alone could solve your problem. Once you KNOW the timing is set, look
> at other things like vacuum leaks, etc., one at a time, not all together.
> BTW, the thermostat is not the direct cause of your problem, though a
> thermostat stuck open will cause running problems once the van tries to go
> into closed loop mode. If your low-power problem is happening even when
> you
> restart the van, it isn't your thermostat. Again, a methodical approach is
> key, otherwise you'll drive yourself nuts, as most of us have.
>