Date:         Sun, 1 Aug 2010 07:01:13 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Digifant start-up bad
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

84 Chassis with inline digifant 92 VW motor.  Same-o as many vanagon
ignitions, same-engine managment/injection.

 These past few days  i've encountered rough running upon start up a couple
of times.  I have not yet done any trouble shooting, so I am 'fishing' for
'most likely' places to find the cause(s) before I 'dive-in'.

  The van has always started easily and worked properly on start-up.  Turn
the key and listen for the pump (it is working and sounding the same since
my problem started)  It starts easily after a couple of engine rotations.
Same number rotations as always.  This one has always done a short 'up and
down, semi-stumble hunt' once the engine catches,  and then it settles into
it's warm-up mode...about 1200rpm fast idle...for a few minutes.  Then it
drops right off "warm up mode' into a perfect and steady idle at 7-800
rmps.  All this with 'no touchy' of the accelerator pedal.

  Two days ago, first start of the day at about 90degrees ambient temp...It
fired up normally but didn't get past it's 'hunt and stumble' phase until I
reved the engine a few times with the throttle pedal.  It seemed to catch
normally but then run on only two, maybe three cylinders till I 'goosed it'
a few times.  Then it idled, as usual at it's warmed-up 7-800 rpms.  I drove
off and could detect no poor performance...Normal driving performance.  Next
start, with the engine at operating temp, normal start up.  Couple of
revolutions of the starter, no touchy the gas pedal, fired right up and
idled normal...all that day.

  Yesterday it fired up normal..maybe just a tad more hunting around after
initial ignition..and went right into it's higher idle warm up mode...as
normal. Came down to normal running idle as usual after a few
minutes... Drove about 20 miles(running normally) and parked for two
hours..then started up and again got the 2-3 cylinders only mode until I
blipped the gas pedal a few times to 'light off' the missing cylinders..

  So I have something odd happening upon start up.  I'm thinking to start
with the Temp II sender, which is maybe 2yrs old now.  And while I am on
that, I plan to check the Idle Air Control valve hoses and connections..that
valve is about a year old, so it should still be good.  I shall listen for
it's hummm, too.  My fuel filter was changed about 2months ago.

  Anybody have any other suggestions?


Oooh, Just occured to me...Prior to this new and recent start up problem I
did overheat the motor somewhat, during a dumb "I forgot the air bleed screw
in the radiator" episode...I better look in the cylinders and see if I see
any coolant in there, huh?  It could be that...coolant fouling the plugs
from me cooking the motor, though I never saw more than "1/2 hot" on the
temp gauge during that coolant-out episode.  It did, however, boil the
coolant in the radiator...I might be swapping in my "new" 2 liter Jetta
motor soon, if a leaking head is the problems...

  Don Hanson