Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 23:40:33 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: 91 Carat has the highway hick ups
In-Reply-To: <119901caf07d$3d14ec00$6401a8c0@PROSPERITY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Most "Vanagon Syndrome" and poor running during extended drives is miss
diagnosed, especially by VW. They are almost always related to the O2
sensor. The sensor is in a bad location subjected to a lot of wind cooling
and road debris. After extended driving at speed the cooling can reduce the
output and the ECU can start over-richening the mixture looking for that
signal. At some point rich enough to cause running problems. Often the first
signs of a bad or weak sensor is fast idle during cold weather or just after
highway travel. The test! Cycle the ignition switch of floor the
accelerator. If either clears up the problem for a short while, O2 sensor is
the issue. Note that the O2 sensors originally had a heat shield or
insulation on them.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Scott Daniel - Turbovans
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 4:13 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: 91 Carat has the highway hick ups
the text below that starts ...'you are on a longer trip'...
and describes bucking, loss of power, and after a restart it's fine ...
that is about "Vanagon Syndrome" and there is an adapter harness fix for
that. it's not the AFM itself. And your 2.1 waterboxer should have that
special adapter harness fitted in any case.
however, for minor hiccupping ...
that is distinctly a characteristic of an AFM that is badly worn in one spot
where the wiper arm contacts what it rubs on inside the AFM.
there are tricks to overcome that which you can read about online in several
places I'm sure......but the real normal fix is a new or rebuilt AFM.
it could be other things ..but 'usually' ..and for sure ...
unexplained minor hiccups ( good word to describe it btw ) ....AFM baby.
"usually." .
Scott
www.turobavans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "georgejoann@juno.com" <georgejoann@JUNO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 7:28 AM
Subject: Re: 91 Carat has the highway hick ups
If it's acting like the description below, the trouble may be in the AFM.
Try a google lookup on vanagon syndrome.
Copied from first entry:
>> You are on a longer trip, the wasserboxer has been humming along for
>> several hours and runs really good. Then all of a sudden,
>> out-of-the-blue, the engine cuts out. The vanagon lurches, loses power,
>> and starts bucking. You pull over and shut it off. A little later, you
>> restart the motor, and it runs just fine. Sometimes this might not
>> happen again for a long time, or if you are not so lucky, the vanagon
>> might start this syndrome all over again after only a few minutes of
>> driving. Sometimes the cutting out is very slight, barely
>> noticeable...<<
George/ATL
