Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 08:29:25 -0800
Reply-To: Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Michael Elliott <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: So thar I was (Engine wouldn't start)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
All adventure tales should start with, "So thar I was . . ." This alerts
the listener that some old codger is about to embark on a long, rambling,
and ultimately pointless tale.
This alerted, the smart listener knows that it time to leave the room,
mumbling some excuse about needing to check the mail or get a lung removed.
But anyways.
So thar I was last Friday, camping at 6,000 feet in the mountains east of
San Diego. We were having a record storm: 40 mph winds, several inches of
rain, and lows in the middle 30's (F). By many standards, that ain't much
of a storm, but around here it's notable.
Mellow Yellow was parked broadside to the wind and while the gusts shook
the van, the poptop showed no sign of stress. However, the force of the
wind pushed water right through the fabric on the weather side. Things got
a little damp in the spice rack.
The rain blew horizontally. All day and all night.
In the morning, the rain had stopped, but the wind continued. Easily
Beaufort 7 (moderate gale). I packed up and went to start the engine, but
it didn't want to cooperate.
Cranked and cranked and cranked. But there was no indication of
combustion. I paused, thinking, "I don't want to have to call for help! I
just want to go home to Mrs Squirrel."
After waiting a bit, I tried again -- lots of cranking, and after a bit
the engine caught -- grudgingly, it seemed -- and shortly thereafter I was
on my way home.
Here's the thing: I am scheduled to go up that mountain every month and
spend a couple of nights. December, January, and February. If the engine
didn't want to start this last time, I worry that it might be worse next
time. it might not start at all.
I don't know what the problem was. There was gear covering the engine
hatch, my fingers were cold, and I didn't have an assistant to crank the
engine while I checked for spark or other stuff (actually, checking for
spark is about the limit of my skills, anyway).
Cold, altitude -- those both cold affect starting, I reckon. I wonder also
whether a full day and night of sideways horizontal rain might have gotten
the ignition parts wet. I don't have enough information to hazard a guess.
So my question is: if you had just had this experience, what would you
have done? What might you bring along the next time to help get the darn
engine started, in the snow or rain, with no one to assist?
--
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
