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Date:         Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:20:34 -0400
Reply-To:     pdooley <psdooley@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         pdooley <psdooley@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: Surging engine
Comments: To: Paul Chubbuck <paul@TAKINGFLIGHT.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <000801ca4df8$2a9079a0$7fb16ce0$@net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Fuel flow meter or fuel injection pump? What engine management do you have? If it's a Rabbit/Fox motor, probably Digifant or CIS. Either way, 2 grand is ridiculous. You can get a fuel injection pump new for anywhere from $100 to $200, depending on your setup. If you were in Tampa you could have one of my 10 spare used fuel pumps for free. If the air flow meter is bad you can source spares from many different VAG products from Jettas to Golfs to even Thunderbird Turbocoupes or Merkurs. Saying either of these parts is NLA is just stupid.

The narrow-mindedness of your shop leads to be believe they don't have your best interest in mind.

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Paul Chubbuck Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 8:33 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Surging engine

For over a year, my Vanagon engine has been surging badly, especially when the accelerator is fully depressed, as it frequently is at highway speeds. The rate of surging at highway speeds is approximately 2 cycles per second. The surging can be minimized by backing off at bit on the accelerator, but since the engine is underpowered for the vehicle, it is not acceptable to use anything less than maximum acceleration. At street speeds it is much less noticeable but even then there is often unsteady acceleration. It makes driving unpleasant and rough. Sometimes the problem will suddenly cease and there will be smooth running for anywhere from a few seconds to several miles, but otherwise, it is there most of the time.

It is a 1982, originally diesel, but converted before I owned it to what I'm told is an 86-92 Rabbit/Fox engine. The computer has Bosch number 0 280 800 104 (105) on it. It is fuel injection.

I have been told by two different seemingly competent shops that the problem lies in a part numbered Bosch 0 438 101 005, which I believe is called a fuel flow meter or a fuel injection pump. Not sure of that...I'm not a mechanic, as must be obvious.

The first shop to work on it had it back at least 5 times before they gave up. They tried cleaning and adjusting that component to no avail. They couldn't get a new part and tried replacing with a used part and said the other used parts performed worse than my own. They also replaced the O2 sensor.

The 2nd shop said replacement of that part would cost me $2000 because the part is not made any more. They offered to do an engine conversion to a Suburu for $12,000!

Can you tell from the symptoms if this part is really the culprit? Is there any way to replace this part at a reasonable price?

Thanks very much in advance.

Paul Chubbuck in Fort Collins


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