Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2012 23:08:08 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: 87 Syncro - Vanagon-type Syndrome and Questions-Learning!
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To begin with you have to terms with your spouse and set reasonable
expectations for what it will cost to operate any older vehicle. Vehicles
depreciate in value because they do lose their economy of operation and
become obsolete in many ways. However there are many benefits and rewards to
owning these vehicles and doing some of the maintenance yourself adds a
sense of satisfaction. So here are my tips and being female is no excuse for
not gaining male type skills.
A Pirelli commercial a number of years ago had a slogan, "Power Is Nothing
Without Control". This is true of anything that does work for us. Controls
can be mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic etc.
Electrical is difficult to some of us because it can't be seen. However it
can be measured. Use Google or other search engines. Learn about volts,
(pressure) amps, (rate of flow), and ohms, (resistance to flow). Later on
you can add inductance, capacitance, reactance, impedance, etc. This stuff
applies only to AC circuits.
After you get a handle on the volts, amps, ohms, stuff learn Ohm's and
Kirchhoff's laws. Then add volts X Amps = Watts. Invest in a fairly good
digital multi-meter that also has a bar graph display. The bar graph display
responds much faster than the numbers and is needed for testing circuits
that vary like the O2 sensor. Duty cycle and frequency capability will help
later on when you need to tackle advanced stuff. Then have someone help you
learn to read wire diagrams like in the Bentley. Understanding this stuff
will allow you tackle any DC problem you can come across.
Now, when things are working properly learn and understand the various
processes at work in the vehicle. You can't fix the fuel injection if you
don't know what it is supposed to do!
Avoid asking question to get quick answers and avoid trying to make quick or
easy repairs when things are. Cleaning ground connections sounds like a good
thing to do as maintenance but this is bad approach as a repair. You'll have
no way of knowing if you actually fixed something of if just moving that
wire broken inside the insulation unseen made for a temporary fix. You can
also make something else fail adding to more grief. Get the book, find the
wiring for the O2 sensor and trace it. Get your significant other to work
with you. When you become confidant it becomes fun.
BTW- on the 87 Syncros the ground connection for both the O2 reference and
the ignition is usually connected at the base of the oil tower. The plastic
is a lousy conductor. Now here is your first test lesson. Ignition on,
engine not running, get that new meter, set to DC volts and carefully place
a probe on the ring terminal and the other on the chassis or engine case. Is
there any voltage there at all? If yes that is a problem. Tighten the
connection. Did the voltage disappear? If yes you actually found a problem
and corrected it. If no voltage at all, disconnect it from the case and
measure again. You should see .5 volt or more, sometimes much more. Now you
know the wire is connected at the other end. Since you are holding it you
may want to replace that ring terminal-crimp connection. You will see the
copper wire is all corroded. Use a quality connector that also has the
shrink seal to stop the further corrosion. Now you even did a minor
improvement. Oh, and reconnect that wire to something all metal. I usually
attach it to one of the screws holding the fuel pressure regulator.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Donna Skarloken
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2012 11:18 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: 87 Syncro - Vanagon-type Syndrome and Questions
Happy Friday to everyone - I have questions and somewhat of a dilemma. I am
a non-mechanic female and was told by my spouse that I cannot spend any more
money on fixing our Syncro. The dilemma is whether I can learn to fix some
things myself and keep the repair cost down generally. Currently I need to
drive my syncro to a train station to get to work and cannot because a
Vanagon-type syndrome has reappeared after a month of no symptoms (my
commute car is in a shop, no idea when I'll get it back or in what shape, so
I am having to borrow cars to get to work - not a good situation). I need
to diagnose and if possible fix this myself. I do have occasional access to
my mechanic neighbor for help.
Can someone please give me a list of where all the ground points are? I did
was able to check the ground strap that goes from the side under the coil to
the motor and it seems fine. There is one little green wire that goes into
a whole bunch of wires that go to the ground strap under the coil that looks
as if it could have a crack in it, but when I wiggle it when the engine is
running, there is no effect on the running of the motor.
The syndrome does not appear until the syncro is warmed up, say about 15
minutes into my commute, and running at freeway speed, although one day
idling in street traffic it did die but started right back up. Sometimes
the cut-out is real quick, other times it shakes the motor rather violently.
There is no consistency as I might drive it today and have no misfire or
cut-out at all, but the next trip it may happen about 3-4 times. It is
about 35 miles one-way to the train station I use.
As always I appreciate the help and this list has been invaluable. Happy
Holidays.
Donna, 87 Syncro
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