Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2008 12:55:52 -0800
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Still running like crap, the saga continues
In-Reply-To: <060e01c8814b$76e57a60$5801050a@cspfr2>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hi,
I choose my words pretty carefully, when it write 'the fuel itself' and am
talking about the actual juice, the GASOLINE itself, not 'delivery.'
But yes, if it runs ok a 40, one would be inclined to think the gas itself
and fuel pressure and delvery is ok, but you should check the fuel pressure
if you haven't.
You might also just spray down EVERYTHING, except inside the alternator with
WD-40.
Of course some yahoos love to just say that's bunk,
So I'll tell you his real story about the power of WD-40.
Happened just the day before yesterday.
I'm out driving around and I see parked outside a discount FLAPS a gloss
black 80ish 300D Mercedes with a for sale sign on it.
Well, gotta check that out , right ?
Turns out I has a Chevy 350 V-8 in it with big ole Weber carb. It even says
'Mr Goodwrench" on the valve covers, which about made me through up, seeing
'melcian' iron from GM in a fine Benz...
And he's working on the headlights, like in the parking lot outside the
store. Nice guy.
He's got no hi beams,
He's fiddling and stuff and I showed him where the fuses are. The ceramic
german kind - they often don't make contacts on the end - it's standard in
my world to always twist them a bit to re-establish contact. And I always
treat them with wd-40 anyway.
I'm wearing nice clothes and don't want to get dirty. # 8 fuse is the one
for hi beams, I wiggle it, it's not blown, and it doesn't want to come out
easily, and I'm not wanting to get into a whole big thing either. And I
have a spare new fuse ready to go, but the old one ..just didn't want to
just slip out.
While the high beams are no, but not working, I spray WD-40 on the fuse, and
the high beams start working !!!
Spray- maybe a tiny zap, and they are working.
So WD-40 removed enough moisture for a few electrons to jump, and that tiny
zap probably blasted away some more of the corrosion....he was a happy dude.
It was almost dark, the wife and daughter were waiting etc.
Just read your Bently on how to test the temp sensor. Need an ohm meter,
preferably digital in m world, but not totally necessary.
Right, so the guy's head is not totally immersed in vanagons and waterboxer
EFI.
Well there you go, he really would rather it just goes away. He's not your
man, but I realize may be all you've got for now.
He could even just be guessing what it needs.
If he hasn't worked on one vanagon in years....that's going to make it a
lot, lot harder. Sounds like someone still back in the carb era, or points
and coil and carb era.. Like does clutches and water pumps and head jobs,
but not really a DIAGNOSTIAN, no offense.
I hope he's brilliant and energetic and hard working.
Maybe Gene's is it then !
I suspect no one is thinking or digging deeply enough yet- important to move
away from a 'parts mentality' into a diagnostic mentality.
It may need some parts yes, but very, very often it's not some part that has
failed...
It's more fine tuning, cleaning, and adjusting.
Though air flow meters - I actually find very few bad ones of those, but
they can get weak or dodgey pretty easily.
I carry a spare on any serious trip, etc.
Good luck !
Scott
www.turbovans.com <http://www.turbovans.com/>
-----Original Message-----
From: BJ Feddish [mailto:bfeddish@netreach.net]
Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2008 10:37 AM
To: 'Scott Daniel - Shazam '
Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: RE: Still running like crap, the saga continues
>> And I wonder about various things - take the temp sensor for the ECU, -I
seldom find them to be bad, but has anyone really checked the resistance
according to the chart in Bentley ? these are just basic tests to perform.
<<
Once again it's cold and pouring rain outside again. I'll take a peak when
It's clear. In order to test the temp sender to the ECU, is that something I
can do or do I need a special tool?
>> I've already said my spiel about old coils and weak spark plug wires. Has
anyone checked in the fuel filter ? <<
I replaced the spark plug wires this summer at the very onset of running
bad. The fuel filter was changed when I put in a new fuel filter this fall.
Hmmm the coil. Being that they are $29 I will cruise up to the Bus Depot on
Monday and pick up a new one. I should just get a rebuilt AFM while I'm
there too. Might as well get new plugs and cap and rotor too.
>> I NEVER hear of anyone considering the fuel itself. Could have water in
it, especially in the winter. Water in fuel causes all kinds of
inconsistency and weirdness,. Not Likely, granted, but it must be
considered. <<
I'm going to stick with the electrical or vacuum issue. Since the van runs
fine at 40 mph or greater I'm thinking the fuel delivery isn't the problem
or could I be wrong?
>> How Vanagon experienced is your professional tech ? <<
Back in the 80's he was but mine is the only one he's probably seen in years
and I think he's looking forward to either me getting rid of the van or his
retirement, whichever comes first.
>> . If the shop does American cars too, that would concern me. A 20 year
old Vanagon to a shop that works on 'just everything' and lots of 2000
something year model Hondas and American cars, a 20 year old Vanagon could
be a major mind-challenge to them. <<
My guy (single mechanic) used to just be VW's (and was THE VW transmission
rebuilder in the area during the 70's) but he does few VW's these days. He's
also moved into the "just keep it running" mode as apposed to investigating
problems. I DID take it to another shop 45 min NE of me last week who
supposedly specializes in these things. They fixed all my ground wires,
reset the C02, timing, etc. but handed it back to me literally running worse
than when I brought it there. Anyway, it's going to my mechanics next week
to replace the exhaust pipe and I can give him a list of things the list
members have recommended that I can't do myself like the compression test.
>> Seems more and more you need a vanagon specialist. <<
I'm about 30 minutes North of Gene's Foreign Car Service in Broomall, PA. I
have not tried them yet but they get good reviews. They will be next after
my mechanic gets it.
Thanks again for your help.
Bryan
