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Date:         Sun, 22 Dec 2013 22:14:29 -0800
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Organization: Cosmic Reminders
Subject:      Re: Distributor Woe's continue!!!
Comments: To: JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <52B7418A.7010101@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

was the clamp holding the distributor from rotating loose ? The direction the shaft and rotor will try to turn the dist body clockwise ..in the direction of retard.

just grab the dist ( engine off ) with your hands and make sure it's clamped down and won't rotate. check the rotor is being driven, using a person or a remote starter switch ..cap off, see of rotor turns.

I wonder if you're afraid of it john. dig in ...get dirty ... find out what is not timed or engaged correctly.

flooded wet spark plugs can look just like no ignition. I don't think I've ever found a coil that won't work. I do believe they get old and weak eventually. I have used ones for testing and self-rescue. worth doing the ohm checks on it .... a wire that fell off the coil is more likely than a bad coil.

did you pull a plug and look at it ? did you ground it crank the engine and watch the plug fire ? it's very, very hard to fix cars if you can't crank the engine from back there with a remote starter switch in some cases.

Some people seem particularily afraid of electrics. You have to respect it for sure ...but neither 12 volts or an ignition will particularity hurt you ...jerking because you saw a spark, of got shocked off igntion secondary voltage is more of a hazzard than the juice itself.

< I've touched hot voltage many times, or been shocked ...110VAC , ignition secondary circuit out of the coil.. even 1500 vac 3 phase on a jet interceptor aircraft once .... not really that big a deal ...be careful and respectful for sure , but no need to be that afraid, IMO anyway. >

Are you careful to not have a sparking plug near an open cyldiner that has fuel spraying into it ? ..a fire is possible that way. do you have a fire extinquisher real handy ?

it's basically either ...no igntion, out of time igntion, wet plugs that can't fire........so far seems like something in that area.

dig in, get dirty, don't be afraid of it.

I'll tell you ..as far as swapping distributors in engines...waterboxers are really nice ...almost hard to screw up if you know what you are doing at all. did you check the rotor is firmly on the dist shaft ? think of new things to check .

On 12/22/2013 11:46 AM, JRodgers wrote: > Scott, everything is as it should be - not! > > Here's what has happened: > > I re-assembled the distributor to the engine, and went by the book. All > things correct. Engine started easy, idled on it's own - but due to the > lateness of the day, I shut it down, expecting to re-set timing and > tweak a bit next day. > > Next Day: > Engine won't start. Won't even fire. I checked fuel - it's there. I went > back through the Hall sender test again - and guess what - now no fire > from the coil wire to the distributor!!! > > Next step - test the coil. Which I have no idea at the moment as I > write - as to how to do. Gotta read up. > > I'm definitely open to suggestions. > > Thanks, > > John > > On 12/21/2013 11:35 PM, Scott Daniel wrote: >> the distrubutor may not be seated 'all the way down' and not being >> driven ( did you crank it with a remote starter switch with the dist >> cap remvoed to confirm the rotor turns ?? ) >> that is a 'must do. >> also .. >> it's possible to get the dist 'sort of 'engaged, but 180 out, thus >> firing at the wrong time. >> >> when you put the dist in the block ..do it with your fingers turning the >> rotor.. >> you'll find that one way feels 'sort of maybe ok' . >> bu the other way feels really right ..like down i and right. >> >> if helps if you know how to tell where the engine is positioned by >> observing vavle actuation and movement. >> You can tell when it's on # 1 TDC to fire if you know what to look >> for. . >> >> S. >> On 12/21/2013 10:52 AM, JRodgers wrote: >>> Volks, >>> >>> On my '88 GL - I pilled the distributor - and found the Hall Sender >>> connector that sticks out - to be broken off. Replaced the Distributor >>> with known good one. Set the timing mark on the large pulley to the >>> split in the case. Set the distributor finger to the marke on the >>> distributor case. Hit the switch and the engine started right up. It >>> ran >>> a bit rough - I expected that - it had been sitting a while. Valves >>> were >>> clattering. It was late - so I shut it down and expected to work on it >>> later to set the timing. I have never been able to get it to start >>> again. Cranks - but absolutely no start. >>> >>> Today, I rechecked all the settings, made sure all connectors were >>> connected. Then performed the Hall sender systems check. All test were >>> positive. Spark at the coil wire every time the center connector of the >>> hall sender plug is grounded. The injectors pulse audibly, Fuel pump >>> turns on, idle stabilizer valve hums - but this baby is as dead as a >>> late season Salmon on the river bank!! It turns over plenty good - but >>> will not start. >>> >>> After all the ignition tests were positive - I was sure there is a fuel >>> problem - but the pump runs. However - even though I got the FI to >>> pulse >>> - I never smelled any fuel - and as many times as I pulsed them - I >>> would have thought I would smell fuel - but no joy! >>> >>> Gonna try the ether next - see if I can even get it to fire. After that >>> - I'm not sure where to turn - >>> >>> Anyone have any ideas?? >>> >>> Thanks, >>> >>> John in Alabama - where we are about to be hit by some terrible weather >>> - heavy rain, wind, lightening, thunder, and tornadoes. It is so hot I >>> am wearing shorts today - and it has been raining off and on - the >>> perfect setup for a cold front passage to come through and clobber us >>> good with the bad weather as it slides under the warm air and pushes >>> all >>> that moisture up high. The edge of that frontal band is nowhere to >>> be in >>> an airplane!! For sure!! >>> >> >


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