Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2011 07:51:36 -0500
Reply-To: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: cranky when wet
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTimHfHBXYj-Re6B=xw4_pnsSgywhBi0JSnw-L8Kq@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I'd say the odds are 3 to 1 that you need new ignition wires. You
could first try a careful cleaning of the distributor cap (inside and
out) and the end of the coil where the connections are. I use 99%
isopropyl alcohol and paper towels. If there are obvious carbon
tracks on the inside of the distributor cap you should replace it.
I feel that the standard diagnostic procedure in these cases is to
mist the ignition wires and related components with a water sprayer
with the engine running in the dark. Watch for sparks or faint
arcing; listen for misfiring. Move the wires around carefully.
Larry A.
On Sat, Feb 5, 2011 at 12:32 AM, Jonathan Poole <jfpoolio@gmail.com> wrote:
> Howdy List,
>
> I've got an 83 air cooled vanagon that runs great but occasionally starts
> roughly when wet. If it sits for a while in heavy rain it is slow to start
> and sort of mis-fires or misses when it first cranks then it stumbles and as
> it hits higher rpms (1500 and up) it clears it's throat so to speak and then
> runs normally/great.
>
> In the past week the van has been sitting and the last day or two have seen
> a lot of rain, at times heavy. Tonight I went out to start the van and it
> would turn over fine but not hit at all. I smelled a bit of gas when I went
> back to open the engine lid and also tried to start it with fuel turned off
> and the throttle open for a while to see if it was flooded. I can do this
> because I have a fuel shut-off under the dash for security and high-altitude
> cold starting. In any case, turning the fuel off didn't make any difference
> and the van was still not hitting and only spinning rapidly over at any
> throttle and with fuel off and on. I did notice the tach needle jumping a
> small bit. I then checked for power at the coil which was good, and I
> checked the opening/closing of the ignition points with an ohm meter while
> hand-turning the engine which looked fine. I also checked for fuel pressure
> by opening the bleeder in between 3 and 4 and it looked like there was
> pressure/fuel. After that I inspected the harness and noticed that the
> section running to the jetronic box is getting pretty wet under the air
> cleaner. I relocated it to above the canister vent lines to get it up a bit
> but wasn't able to do much there. After playing around with the harness
> etc. though when I went to try it again it started to hit a bit. After lots
> of trying (try for 10 seconds or so then wait a few minutes for close to ten
> minutes) it finally started and soon after was running great. Good thing I
> have a newish battery, starter etc.
>
> Also, even though I think that the van was getting plenty of fuel I wasn't
> able to confirm it since I don't have a remote start hooked up and was doing
> this troubleshooting alone. I also don't really know if it was getting
> spark or not.
>
> The van has never done more than start roughly when wet so this was the
> first time it has done this exactly. I'm guessing that the way the van was
> parked or the amount of rain were just right for it to either not have spark
> or less likely enough fuel. What I don't know is how to fix the problem.
> Have any of you dealt with symptoms like this? Is it an ignition component
> problem, a wiring harness problem, the ecu, other? It was annoying when the
> van occasionally started rough but now that I know it can prevent starting
> at all I intend to get to the bottom of the issue and fix it somehow. Any
> suggestions or similar experiences appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jonathan Poole
> '83 AC Westy
>
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