Date:         Tue, 16 Oct 2012 16:35:48 -0400
Reply-To:     Marc Perdue <mcperdue@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Marc Perdue <mcperdue@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Update: Re: Darn idle, stalling, running rich...
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Haven't gotten the Temp II sensor or thermostat yet, but started working on
the FAQ from Ron Austin on BTDT. Tested the voltage from neg. battery term.
to engine ground with two green wires pulled from coil, helper cranking...
0.7 VDC. It's supposed to be less than 0.5. The ground contacts on each end
of the ground strap from the engine to just below the coil had been
cleaned, but I cleaned them again, put an extra 12 gauge wire (vs. 10 gauge
that Ron spec'd; it's complicated...) connected to each point, cleaned the
connections on the ground strap on the tranny and got down to .49 VDC. I
have a ways to go, but the van's running noticeably better. Still way rich
and stalling, but it has less of the creeping tendency where it doesn't
have much power till it gets up above about 3K RPMs. I'm hoping to start
getting better than 10 mpg again soon.

So, what is the gauge of the normal ground wires in an '87 Westy (auto, if
it makes a diff.)? And where are they? I'm planning on working on replacing
all the ends of the ground wires and cleaning up the battery cables in the
next couple of days . . .

In addition to the ground and battery wires, I also need to check out the
stereo cabling; I have a sneaky suspicion that something the installers did
is causing me problems . . . My battery kept going dead for a while when
the subwoofer was plugged in, so I had them wire it differently. They just
wired the stupid stereo so none of it would come on unless the van was on .
. . grrrr . . . I also feel like the crossover isn't working cause the
front speakers buzz badly, but that's another job... Never enough time to
do it right myself, dang it.

Marc

On Thu, Oct 11, 2012 at 10:34 AM, Marc Perdue <mcperdue@gmail.com> wrote:

> I didn't know enough about how the O2 sensor works to know that. Thanks!
>
> You use a different thermostat in the summer and winter? I've never heard
> of that . . . So, the concept here is that the 87 C t-stat will allow the
> engine to warm up to operating temp more quickly, right? That would be
> helpful... Knock on wood, but I've NEVER had an over-heating problem with
> my van. I've had NUMEROUS cooling system failures, mind you . . .
>
> Ordering a new t-stat and Temp II sensor now...
>
> I don't know if there's a different procedure now, but back when I have a
> Ford truck with a 4-barrel carb, I would spray cleaning fluid or ether on
> the vacuum hoses to test them for leaks. This didn't have any effect on the
> van, nor did spraying any of the air intake parts. So either this doesn't
> work or I don't have a vacuum or air leak.
>
> Still have to complete the ground check per the BTDT page . . .
>
> Thanks for your good advice!!
> Marc
>
>