Date:         Sun, 23 Jan 2011 11:36:40 -0700
Reply-To:     Gregory Smith <gfs@GREGORYFSMITH.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Gregory Smith <gfs@GREGORYFSMITH.COM>
Subject:      Re: 1.9 Running issues when wet out
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

I know you didn't mention rich running, but these symptoms also match a
situation I had last winter where the little ring terminal ground near
the dsitributor on my '88 was loose and eventually broke.  It was giving
a poor ground to the ECU, which was therefore not reading the signal
from the Temp Sensor correctly.

Gregory Smith
'88 Vanagon GL

Smith Design Studio
Small Building Company
Olympia, WA
360-239-0429
gregoryfsmith.com


------------------------------

Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2011 10:33:56 -0500
From: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: 1.9 Running issues when wet out

You mention that there's no difference whether the O2 sensor is hooked
up or
not.
THAT is the sign that the O2 sensor isnt working. That means even when
it's
"plugged in" it's not hooked up. So, it runs the same whether you unplug
it
or not.
I am weary of the O2's on all 1.9s. They're a weak link and worth
further
consideration.

And yes, exhaust leaks can cause it to run like total crap, as well as
be
bad on your engine and destroy the O2 sensor.

-Craig


On Sun, Jan 23, 2011 at 7:59 AM, Larry Alofs <lalofs@gmail.com> wrote:

> When it's running OK take a spray bottle and mist the ignition wires,
> distributor cap, and coil, etc. with water. If you do this in the
> dark, it will be easier to see any arcing that happens. Might also
> spray around the O2 sensor.
> Good luck,
> Larry A.
>
>
> On Sat, Jan 22, 2011 at 6:10 PM, Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@gmail.com> wrote:
> > OK, I've been dealing with this for some time now. When it rains (snow
> > doesn't seem to bother it) a medium to hard rain I can get about 15-20
> > minutes down the road before rough running and eventually the engine just
> > dies out.
> >
> > Cap, rotor, plug wires are all new. New Temp Sensor too (because previous
> > diagnostics had proven it was a bit wonky).
> >
> > Everything in m's y gut tells me this is an electrical issue but I don't
> know
> > for sure and even if I did I don't know where to start.
> >
> > When this happens if I let the bus sit for a day I can get it running
> again
> > - but it takes a lot of messing with it - it will not idle at first, then
> it
> > will run rough and stall - each attempt getting longer and longer until
> > eventually I am able to keep it running and it recovers and runs fine.
> One
> > other thing during the rough running period (when the problem starts and
> > after it has sat and I am trying to get it going again) is that if I give
> it
> > any gas at all it will stall immediately - eventually of course it is
> fine.
> >
> > I suspect by the way it acts after it has sat that it eventually gets
> better
> > becuase whatever is wet is drying off more and more. Then again I don't
> > really know anything.
> >
> > Any advice at all pointing me in ANY direction at this point is welcome.
> >
> > --
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Jeff
> > '85 GL (Gertie)
> > '90 Carat (Grover - the noble parts donor)
> > '86 (We call this one Scrap)
> > '78 Bus (Melissa) Patty's Bus