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Date:         Sun, 20 Feb 2011 18:42:46 -0800
Reply-To:     John Goubeaux <john@UCSB.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Goubeaux <john@UCSB.EDU>
Organization: University of California Santa Barbara
Subject:      Re: On the road and need some help
Comments: To: Mike S <mikes@flatsurface.com>
In-Reply-To:  <20110220024852.E825CA007E@locke.alientech.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Thanks all for the suggestions on trbl shooting my "hobbled vanagon" . I believe I have narrowed down the problem to #4 cylinder not firing ( or getting fuel). I pulled each plug wire while it was running and when doing so with #4 hardly noticed any change. The plug wire seems OK and when compared to #4 has the same resistance when checked with an ohm meter. So I am thinking that either the cylinder has lost compression or could it be a wonky injector? ( I've already replaced the plugs remember) Can a cylinder just loose all compression at once ?

I guess one question I have: Is it harmful to drive it in this condition ? Once up to speed on the hwy it seems to move along OK ( and coolant temp is normal) but when climbing or under a load it looses power. I have about 250 miles to get back home.

Oh yeh BTW I am in HalfMoon Bay about 50 miles North of Santa Cruz and am gonna stop by and see Peter at VanCafe so In case parts are needed I should be OK.

-john

On 2/19/2011 6:48 PM, Mike S wrote: > At 07:12 PM 2/19/2011, John Goubeaux wrote... >> I'm on the road and several hundred miles from home ( southern CA) and >> my 90 Vanagon has begun to run bad. It is missing and has a serious >> reduction of power when under load. > > Try to narrow it down. > > Remove one plug wire at a time (both ends). If it's a spark problem, > you won't notice much difference when you hit the bad cylinder. If all > 4 make it worse, then try fuel. Pull the connector from one injector > at a time - same thing, if you pull one and little change, that's the > bad one. > > If that doesn't ID a bad cylinder, then the problem is probably > systemic - bad timing, coil, cap, rotor, computer, fuel pressure, > sensor, etc.


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