Date: Fri, 25 Sep 2015 15:27:24 -0600
Reply-To: OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Need Help diagnosing a Non-starting '86 Vanagon
In-Reply-To: <CAEwp_cSJKddNeO7naDnE92aaVDpOy-Xxm=pneCzGOTKh20LHFg@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
If the BlkWire that Marc spoke of has 12v then check that the 2 relays in the BlkBox above the
Coil are Switching ~ Have an assist' turn the Igni'Key while you ListenTo or Touch those relays ~
1 Powers the ECU & the other Powers the FuelPump ~ They are Cheap ~ All Vanagons should have
a Spare 1 or 2 of those OnBoard ~
Also in regards to BadBatt' ~ I have had a Batt' with a ShortedCell so it still had the Ability to
Crank the Starter QuiteNicely but there was not EnoughJuice to make the ECU Happy ~
ORR ~ DeanB
On 25 Sep , 2015, at 7:20 AM, Marc Perdue wrote:
> If the van had alternator problems, i.e., the alternator died and the
> van ran till the battery ran out of juice, it could have killed the
> battery. Why not start at the beginning and see if the battery's good?
>
> Marc
>
> On Thu, Sep 24, 2015 at 11:33 PM, vw_van_fan_Mark <madvws@cox.net> wrote:
>> None of the grounds up under the dash have anything to do with whether
>> the van runs or not. There is a key-on power black wire that goes from
>> the dash area back to the engine compartment and that wire plays a
>> critical role. On most vans the black wire goes to the ignition coil to
>> power it and to turn on the ECU power relay as well as enable the fuel
>> pump relay. So check for 12 volt power at the coil when key is on. Since
>> it is an 86 the exact wiring path can vary. But since this may have
>> started with work done on the alternator it would be wise to check for
>> constant power on that stud in the engine wiring box. When you get back
>> to the van with a meter I'd be willing to help you check things out.
>>
>> There is a wiring tool you build to bypass a lot of the known failure
>> areas that can keep a van from starting.
>>
>> http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=349429&highlight=wiring+bypass
>>
>> Mark
>>
>>
>> Cary Chiang wrote:
>>>
>>> I'm trying to help a first-time vanagon owner get his van running.
>>> It's an '86, with 2.1L and manual trans. I was told that the van was
>>> being
>>> driven almost daily, had some sort of alternator problem, and then failed
>>> to start one day. A mechanic diagnosed that the spark plugs weren't
>>> firing, but a lack of money prevented any further work. I noticed that
>>> the
>>> ignition switch was functioning poorly, and temporarily swapped in a good
>>> used one. Next, I noticed that the fuel pump wasn't energizing when the
>>> ignition key was turned to the accessory position. I ran power directly
>>> to
>>> the fuel pump to get it running, but the engine still won't start (I'm
>>> assuming because of no spark from the plugs). I'm assuming that there
>>> is an electrical issue that is affecting both the fuel pump and the
>>> ignition system.
>>> I've cleaned up the two
>>> multi-pronged ground connections above the fuse block, and replaced the
>>> ECU, but am running out of easy ideas. I plan to go back with a
>>> multi-meter, and check for voltage at the fuse block and at the terminal
>>> in
>>> the engine compartment black box. Hopefully I will have access to a
>>> Bentley also, but my schematic-reading and Vanagon diagnosing skills are
>>> pretty rusty. Any idieas and suggestions as to additional components,
>>> grounds, or
>>> voltages that I should check would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!
>>>
>>
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