Date:         Sat, 9 Jun 2007 21:35:25 -0600
Reply-To:     Doug Ezell <dtezellmd@BRESNAN.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Doug Ezell <dtezellmd@BRESNAN.NET>
Subject:      Ran good, now runs bad???
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2007060922475693@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original

OK, folks, please help me out with this one.  I have an '89 westy syncro,
just turned over 100,000 miles.

Shortly after filling up w/ gas (this has happened this way before), the
previously beautifully running engine begins to lose power, nothing happens
when I give it some gas w/ the accelerator.  Then, a few seconds later, it
kicks in and works great.  Runs off and on like that for a while.  Yesterday
I "fixed" it by turning off the engine and restarting it.  That worked great
and no more problems.

Today, it did the same thing, only worse.  Eventually it wouldn't run at
all.  I tried something someone told me to do once.....disconnect the green
wire which resides under the ignition coil (not the green wire coming out of
the coil, of course.)  Then it ran fantastic.

When all this happens, I must say it is quite disconcerting out in the
middle of Montana, not a residence in sight, the wife's sighs getting louder
by the minute!!

Is this an electrical or fuel problem?  Oxygen sensor ?(replacing that
worked once, but only about 3000 miles ago.) ?Idle stabilizer valve?

Any advice I'll appreciate.

Thanks!!
Doug in Montana