Date:         Wed, 6 Jun 2007 19:59:20 -0500
Reply-To:     Matt Roberds <mattroberds@COX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Matt Roberds <mattroberds@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: Jerky Van continued
Comments: cc: Greg Marshall <mr.marshall@SYMPATICO.CA>
In-Reply-To:  <20070606180832.MECY25526.eastrmmtai101.cox.net@eastrmimpi03.cox.net>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

> From:    Greg Marshall <mr.marshall@SYMPATICO.CA>
> Date:    Wed, 6 Jun 2007 17:54:30 +0000
>
> The Problem:
> The van bucks and shudders on deceleration. [...]
> - The problem gets WAY worse in the rain, sometimes to the point of
> stalling.

This has probably already been suggested, but an engine performance
problem that gets worse in the rain often means a problem with the
high-voltage side of the ignition system: coil, cap, rotor, wires,
plugs.  I'd try new cap-rotor-wires-plugs first, then maybe a new coil.
You might also check the wiring to the Hall-effect sender inside the
distributor; there was much recent discussion here on how that wiring
can get beat up right near where it goes through the side of the
distributor.  I'm not sure that the electronic ignition models have
this, but: does your distributor have any kind of vacuum advance/
retard on it?  If so, you should check that the hose(s) are intact and
connected correctly, and that the mechanism works right.

> - I have the temp II sensor on the passenger side cylinder head, not at
> cylinder 3 where it should be. The hole was stripped on three, so I put
> it in the available hole at cylinder four.

IMHO the sensor location probably isn't the main problem, but: did the
problem start at the same time you moved the sensor?  Were you able to
make the stock plug and wire reach the sensor, or did you have to splice
on some extra wire?

Matt Roberds