Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2011 18:37:19 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: engine dying while driving
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lol.
VSS is a bit nebulous to me, to pin down like that.
It is recognized that usually it happens 'after driving steadily for a
while' .
on the other hand ...this very nicely running 2.1 waterboxer of mine ..
that wouldn't go in the street...4 or 5 times it wouldn't..
popping on the harness made it behave imediately ..that was 'in town' for
sure.
need some good testing method ..
can't just throw parts at it ...well you can, but that gets expensive.
I also like to say 'don't think 'part' " ....think diagnose, test, inspect,
clean and tune.
the majority of the vanagon not-running-right that I fix is about adjusting
or cleaning ..
not about 'a part' . or at least ..very often it's not about 'a part.' .
the 'two distributors for $ 600 twice but still acting up' vanagon I
mentioned..
he didn't believe me when I was optimistic that 3 small things would fix it
..
it had typically too advanced timing ..
no contact at idle from the throttle switch ..
and an exhaust leak near the oxygen sensor.
but those 3 simple things fixed it.
and as I often say ..
most of the vanagons I see do not have their throttle switches making
contact at idle..
and they often have too advanced igntion timing ..
and also this one ..
Temp sensor II acting up ..I see that sometimes.
Had one van that would just start to rev out by itself ...then if you shut
it off, it was flooded and wouldn't start.
That one had a temp Sensor II that was good cold, but not right hot, ( many
of those that are sold now are are offshore manufactured cheapo's I
elieve. )
plus the no-idle contact syndrome ..and too advanced timing. Those 3 simple
things fixed that van just perfectly.
I will even say ...it's more likely to be 'adjustments' and corrosion
cleaning/repair ... ..
than it is 'a part.'
And for them to be really right ..everything ..all adjustments and inputs to
the ecu have to be pretty much 'right.' Lots of waterboxer vans are running
..but many are not running reallly right.
After getting the idle swtich making contact again on one van ...then I
could feel fuel shut-off during decel ..
which was not happening until that adjustment was set right , or fixed.
maybe I'll write a tech manual on making them run right someday ..the
multitude of things that need to be checked and about right at least, on
them.
scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joy Hecht" <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2011 5:42 PM
Subject: Re: engine dying while driving
> Other opinions? If the problem occurs often in urban driving, do you all
> agree that it probably isn't vanagon syndrome?
>
>
> Joy
>
> On Sun, Mar 27, 2011 at 9:57 PM, Richard Jones <jones@colorado.edu> wrote:
>
>> I disagree that this seems like classic vanagon syndrome.
>> Classic vanagon syndrome happens after steady pedal on the
>> highway for some extended period of time. Think level
>> interstate highway at 65 mph for 15 minutes.
>>
>> Urban or suburban driving syndrome is something else. When
>> she is going up a hill, she is applying pedal.
>>
>> I have a VW pigtail for sale, but I don't think Joy should
>> buy it. It would not cure her problem. Unfortunately, I don't
>> know what will, but I think the vanagon syndrome cure would be
>> a waste.
>>
>> Of course, she should have the cure because SOMEDAY she WILL
>> have vanagon syndrome. ;-)
>>
>> Richard
>>
