Date: Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:55:26 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Not starting easily
In-Reply-To: <CAEDRJO4Yj1XfgbXD8x6dCckrJgetMAxv4vYscj+PmMFDg8Obxw@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
One thing with conversions is that until you are fully knowledgeable you are
going to require some support from the converter. This is due to every
conversion being done slightly differently.
From the factory the O2 sensor light was operated from a mileage counter
driven by the speedometer cable. As a bulb check it was also lighted with
the alternator warning light. So for your first support question you need to
find out how these two warning lights now operate as the Subaru alternator
requires some type of wiring change for this circuit. Also ask about the
refrigerator control circuit as it was also originally controlled with the
alternator light warning circuit. Are all the warning lights working? Do
both the alternator and oil pressure lights turn on with ignition on and
engine stopped?
Now what do you mean by hard starting? Is it cranking slowly? Is it cranking
normally but will not fire? Will it only start with throttle open? Need some
more details.
One thing you should do is find the connection for the ECU and get some
means to read the fault codes. This will help a lot. Hopefully the converter
added the engine maintenance indicator lamp, (MIL or check engine), to the
dash somewhere. A hard start and bad idle could be from a single failure.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Corey Deahl
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 8:22 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Not starting easily
Hello all,
I'm new here and glad to be part of something larger than myself! I just
bought a 1986 syncro westy (which I've wanted since I was 16), and it has
had the SVX conversion done. I believe it was installed by Rocky Mountain
Westy. Anyway... It hasn't been starting very easily the last 3 days,
because 3 days ago I was underneath fiddling around with the cruise control
sensor. I'm not saying that's what did it, and here's a little more
history... since I bought it, it's had the O2 sensor light on the dash lit
up (running beautifully), and the guy I bought it from said it had been like
that since he had replaced the engine at Rocky Mountain Westy, and they told
him it was fine. Since 3 days ago, the light has gone off, the idle is lower
and it will stall sometimes when I come to or near a stop.
Any ideas on where to start?
Thanks in advance, and I'm glad to be here.
Corey