Date: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 21:01:09 +0000
Reply-To: Todd Last <rubatoguy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Todd Last <rubatoguy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Scary happening plus fuel injectors/catalytic converter
In-Reply-To: <1371738986.92614.YahooMailClassic@web160102.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
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Could be the dreaded Vanagon syndrome - could be some gunk in your gas tank blocking the flow (if the tank was near empty.) Bad fuel pump relay, etc. etc. How long had you been driving before it happened? There are many potential causes for this.
Replacing the fuel injectors is easy if you have basic skills. What is hard is getting the old hose off the injectors in a way that does not damage them or yourself. Replacing the O2 sensor is no harder than replacing a spark plug, and replacing the cat is easy - unless your exhaust nuts are frozen. (Liberal dousing with PB-Blaster or your favorite penetrating oil is helpful.) Don't be cheap - use new nuts and gaskets when you put it back together and some copper anti-seize.
I replaced my cat years ago after not passing emissions. When I took the old cat out, I noticed that the insides were gone. Aparently a too-rich fuel mixture caused it to burn up inside. Just found one small chunk of the honeycomb left.
Todd
'88 Westy
----- Original Message -----
From: "David M" <covrambles@YAHOO.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2013 7:36:26 AM
Subject: Scary happening plus fuel injectors/catalytic converter
My bus has been running fine for years (I admit with minimal maintenance, except to pass emissions). The other day I pulled up to a light and when it turned green, I pressed the gas pedal and I barely moved. After crawling for about 20-30 yards it picked up and ran normally but it felt strange the first 2 or 3 times I had to slow down. I made it to my destination and then came back home without further incident.
Any ideas what might cause this? I did have my gas pedal cable replaced a while back but I don't think it was that. My van did recently fail emissions which I have not had time to get looked at yet - so it is probably out of tune. But I'm wondering if this could be a warning of something more serious.
On another note, how easy is it to replace the fuel injectors? Can I do it myself? And how easy is it to replace a catalytic converter and oxygen sensor, can I do that myself? The last time I took my van in for emissions work, it cost me over $1000 so I hope to avoid that again.
-David (1987 Wolfsburg)
