Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:29:23 -0800
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: STRANDED in South Florida - NEED TECH HELP
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re
Now just fueled up, and will start, but spits and burps, and can't get all
cylinders firing on start up. Feels like a lack of fuel delivery to me.
that could be it.
for sure, checking the fuel filter is always a smart thing to do.
Empty it out backwards on a clean dish to see what's in there, ( hopefully
no water, rust, dirt, and not too many shiny tiny metal particles ) , and
make sure you can blow through it fairly easily.
The last time I had a vanagon with starting and injector problems....the
fuel filter looked just awful.
what I find is that 'most of the time' fuel pressure is fine.
However, 'to be sure' ............and this is the only way to really be sure
fuel pressure is not an issue....
put a fuel pressure gauge on it. They're like 25 bucks at a discount auto
store, or Harbor Freight.
At least 75 % of the time......when I check it, fuel pressure is ok...
yet just yesterday I had 100 psi with a running, or even with 'just
cranking' on the starter - bad fuel pressure regulator.
and sometimes, I find a weak fuel pump, clogged or very dirty fuel filter,
and occasionally, a bad fuel tank.
( I test for that by running the van off another source of gas, like a gas
can - just be very careful doing that )
also, don't forget 'the fuel itself.' I don't think many diagnosticians ever
consider the fuel itself, but I have seen 'bad gas' for than once. That's
why emptying out the fuel filter backwards can be useful- it might reveal
something.
with your rain comment ....
I'd be thinking about the fuel itself, , and fuel delivery and the
injectors.
It's very useful to check the spray pattern of the injectors.
Fortunately, it is fabulously easy to do on a waterboxer engine.
on my 'bad fuel filter' episode I mentioned above.........checking spray
pattern on used waterboxer injectors, I went through 10 to find 4 with a
really nice spray pattern. 'all new' or 'all new rebuilt injectors' make
me a little nervous. I haven't had that great luck with rebuilt injectors. I
would for sure only replace bad injectors initially, rather than 'all four'
at once - based on spray pattern, and make sure they don't leak.
you might even just take a 'fuel sample'.
remove that 7 mm hex head screw plug on top of the 'triple T' fuel hose
junction right next to the distributor.
Put a hose on it, run it to a clear jar, and crank the engine .........see
what you get in that clean glass jar. That might reveal something, and it's
a very easy test to do.
always consider clogged cat or muffler for 'low power like it's not getting
fuel' ...the symptom is very much the same.
( a 'cheater test' if a engine won't rev out, and you think it might be
clogged or restricted cat or muffler - remove the oxygen sensor, start the
engine, and see if it revs out. A clogged cat or muffler is semi-rare
..........and if an engine won't rev out well due to clogged or restricted
exhaust, this cheater test works well since it relieves the pressure
allowing the engine to rev properly )
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Drexler" <mdrexler@ZING-NET.CA>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, January 23, 2010 2:31 PM
Subject: STRANDED in South Florida - NEED TECH HELP
> Hi. Help needed. We are stranded at Homestead, Florida, where Hwy 1 heads
> into the Keys.
>
> 91 GL Westy doesn't want to go any further. Started rough this am, but ran
> decent most of day once completely warmed up.
>
> Just completed 1700 trouble free (till now) miles on new fuel injectors,
> fuel lines, plug wires, plugs, cap and rotor. Fuel filter has about 2-3k
> on
> it. Checked plugs this am, and they were a brown and dry.
>
> Now just fueled up, and will start, but spits and burps, and can't get
> all
> cylinders firing on start up. Feels like a lack of fuel delivery to me.
> Getting more and more rough on start up last couple of days, actually
> since
> some heavy rains a couple of days ago.
>
>
>
> Suggestions on root cause or things I should check please, and does
> anybody
> know any techs around very south florida that I could track down???
>
>
>
> THANKS.
>
>
>
> Mark & Mary
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