Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2011 13:01:18 -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: No start/no spark
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here's how I like to trouble shoot 'no ignition.'
I connect a Remote STarter Switch so I can operate the starter while I am by
the engine.
I do the ole 'spark jump' test with the coil wire ...pull the center high
tension lead out of the dist cap, arrange it near the engine block, crank
engine ...
look for a good zap zap zap.
if there isn't any ..
I grab my spare knwon-good distributor and unplug the one on the engine,
plug this one in, and turn it with my fingers.
if spark then ...you know it's your old distributor.
the ECU does supply the 'ignitor' portion of igntion on a 2.1 waterboxer ...
they are usually good though.
The Hall Unit in the distributor ..once miles get very high ..
that part is suspect.
also check wires to the side of the distributor ..they can be weak, or fail
there.
Coil..
seldom have I seen a truly dead coil...
they are 'nebulous' ..eventually ...
they should just be replaced.
gotta have a known good spare distributor in your kit of parts.
I couldn't own or drive a vanagon without one, and some other known-good
units like that. ECU, etc.
scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "TJ Hemrick" <x53gunner@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, October 30, 2011 10:23 AM
Subject: No start/no spark
> All,
> Is there an easy way (e.g. side of the road/limited tools) to check if
> the Hall Effect Generator is working or not. Here's the situation; I felt
> some minor hesitation the other night but only from standstill till it got
> moving. Immediately, I suspected my latest POS Advance/Discount auto
> parts
> fuel pump (even though the first pump was 4 months old and failed and the
> current replacement is 3 weeks old, I'm ordering a new BOSCH from our
> trusted vendors first thing Monday). Well, we got to the next light and
> the van stopped running. No restart. Ran to the back and shot some
> starting fluid in. No change. Right then and there, I thought, this is
> NOT the fuel pump (well, not completely). If it didn't start on starting
> fluid, I'm not getting any spark. Got it home (2 miles courtesy of AAA)
> and tore into it today. I got a weak and intermittent spark from the coil
> wire grounded to the transmission bolt. I pulled a plug and did the same.
> No spark. I cleaned all the contacts in the cap and tip of the rotor.
> Still, no spark. I suspected the coil or ECU. Just out of habit, I
> pulled the grounds under the coil and cleaned them (they looked good). Is
> there any way to do a field check on the Hall Effect Generator or coil.
> I'll end up bumming a ride from the neighbor to the shop to get some
> spares but trying to do it the right way.
>
> TJ
> 87 GL Auto
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