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Date:         Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:28:30 -0700
Reply-To:     Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: 1.9L Gutless when first started
Comments: To: Geza Polony <gezapolony@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2007102116505823@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Great questions, Geza.

No relationship to ALT lamp, and you're right, I monitor battery voltages and they are peachy. -- Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana") 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano KG6RCR

On 10/21/2007 1:39 PM Geza Polony wrote:

> That this occurs intermittently leads me further in the direction of a > mechanical, physical-type problem. That could include a bad electrical > connection, a bad ground, the fuel delivery problems I mentioned, the cat or > muffler, etc. But it's obviously not something that's permanently gone bad, > or else you'd experience the symptoms all the time the same way. I would > include the coil in this. It seems to me that if the coil is bad, it's bad > all the time, but maybe others can shed light on this. Why would the coil > only be "bad" on startup, and what would change in 30 seconds of run time? > > The only other thing I can think of that would be "bad" right after startup, > and only then, is the battery voltage. It's possible that the energy you use > starting the engine, combined with a low voltage to begin with, is pushing > the voltage at the ECU under whatever it's limits are (10.5 volts?) and this > causes the problem until the alternator is able to get the battery voltage > back up to specs. Is there any relationship between the alt light on the > instrument panel and the running problem? It would be nice if the running > problem stopped when the alt light went out, wouldn't it? > > But if I recall, you've done a lot of work on your charging system, and I > presume you're monitoring your battery voltage pretty closely. If that's > true, I'm back to the mechanical-physical failure. > > > On Sun, 21 Oct 2007 13:24:08 -0700, Michael Elliott > <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM> wrote: > >> Say -- I wonder if this might be due to a failed coil? >> >> I ask because the problem surfaced immediately after I did a compression >> test. I am not an experienced mechanic. I pulled the coil wire out of the >> dizzie and did my testing. >> >> About four days later someone who knows a lot about working on these >> engines checked my results with his compression tester. "Always ground the >> coil wire," he said. Why? "Because you can damage the coil." >> >> Coincidence? You be the judge. >> >> -- >> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott >> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus >> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana") >> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano >> KG6RCR >> >> >> >> On 10/21/2007 10:50 AM Geza Polony wrote: >> >>> Mike, >>> >>> I don't think this has anything to do with the electronic part of your FI >>> system. First, if your ken-o-meter is showing good results, that means the >>> electronics are working normally. Second, your symptoms are too extreme to >>> be caused by a bad sensor or whatever, and the fact that it corrects itself >>> soon after starting means the FI system isn't faulty. >>> >>> This is not really related to temperature, either. >>> >>> I'm wondering if it could be something in your fuel delivery system, a >>> physical clogging of the fuel lines or some other problem that would limit >>> fuel pressure/delivery rate during the first 30 seconds or so of operation. >>> >>> What happens if you start it, then just let it idle for a few minutes? Does >>> the problem go away? >>> >>> Another possibility would be something loose in your cat or muffler creating >>> too much back pressure until, after a time, it moves out of the way because >>> of vibration or pressure and allows the exhaust to flow correctly. >>> >>> In any event, I think this is something physical (not electronic) that >>> corrects itself due to engine vibration or exhaust pressure or fuel pressure >>> after the first few minutes of operation. It's not going to be a vacuum >>> leak, a sensor problem (except possibly a bad connection), or the like, as >>> these would not disappear so quickly and with such predictability. >>> >>> Geza >>> >


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