Date:         Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:39:17 -0400
Reply-To:     pdooley <psdooley@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         pdooley <psdooley@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: 40 minutes drive and then cuts out.
Comments: To: Zolly <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <418D791E09D64CCC82BA5F35E361CA9A@ZoltanPC>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Zolly, thank you so much for following through with a detailed explanation
of the failure mode.

So many times somebody will jump on a forum and ask a question, get a bunch
of helpful responses and then be too lazy to bother providing feedback as to
what actually solved their problem.

The v-gon list is actually pretty good about this but others really blow.

Thanks for increasing the knowledge base!


-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Zolly
Sent: Friday, July 16, 2010 12:43 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: 40 minutes drive and then cuts out.

Ken,
You probably missed the "fixed" email on this.  As it turned out, as
everyone suspected, it was a fuel delivery issue.  Now, whether it was a
blocked filter, a blocked tank, a failing regulator, etc., we only find out
after testing all and see what's not letting gas in.  So, I was running the
van until it stopped.  Then went out to test whatever I could before it
cooled down, when it started again.  Then I ran it again until it stopped
and tested again.  I put a fuel pressure gauge on the line.  And when the
van stopped again the next time, I put voltage from the battery straight to
the fuel pump and "voila" it did not work.  Not because the computer did not
give it signal this time.  It did not work when it was hot, because it had
worn brushes inside and those don't work when they are worn down to the
stop, as you know.
It happens with starters too.
So, I put on an other fuel pump and now happy days are here again.
Sometimes these things come to us the hard way.
Changing computers and coil and all the other electricals, did not work.
And why was I supposed to check the fuel pump when it was working otherwise?
But it was one item I had to make work to create fuel pressure and when I
found it is not working while hot, I had to admit it must be changed and
that's the faulty item.  Now, I put a sign on it "works when cold only".
Worn out brushes on an old item, that's all.  These vans are old.  A quarter
of a century old.
Thanks for thinking for us though.  I appreciate you helpful nature, Sir.
With respect,
Zoltan