Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2015 23:10:34 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: 10/16 ORIGINAL POST is here ... Fw: 10/15 Need Advice AND
Repairs (1991 GMC Vandura) in BERKELEY, Calif.
In-Reply-To: <CA+r=Jhq==f=x-XvVcknt_3CXKU5rcdtgyHuWUhw=O_tD4Az48w@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
Linda,
You may P-mail me after today as this is not Vanagon stuff.
Your symptom to me sounds like the torque converter is not unlocking as you are coming to a stop. This is a common problem. The usual cause is a bad solenoid valve in the transmission or the torque converter lock up clutch itself is bad. Someone knowledgeable should be able to find the connector and disconnect it for testing.
Your fuel economy seems way below normal unless you city driving is like 50 stop-go. You didn't mention if you have the 4.3 V6 or 5.7 V8. Even the V8 should do 14-16 MPG highway.
It is somewhat common for the intake manifolds to be leakers especially on the V6. If not caught really early there is often some engine damage that goes with this. Antifreeze going down the intake valves is not good for anything. Engine compression and leak down test along with oil analysis should always be done after this repair.
With new radiators being relatively available why in heck would someone do a re-core?
With the fuel pump replacement was any though given to the condition of the fuel tank? Is it loaded with rust? How about the filter? Was the pump aftermarket or true OEM. I find replacement pumps seem to have about a 1 in 3 chance of being bad.
Another possibility for bad operation is the ignition modules for these. Sometimes they will fail when hot and work fine for cold start and warm up operation. These are not difficult vehicles to diagnose.
It's not just Vanagons that can challenge shops and have difficulty finding competent techs.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Larry Alofs
Sent: Friday, October 16, 2015 1:21 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: 10/16 ORIGINAL POST is here ... Fw: 10/15 Need Advice AND Repairs (1991 GMC Vandura) in BERKELEY, Calif.
Don't start the subject line with a number!
On Fri, Oct 16, 2015 at 12:36 PM, Linda Merrill < lindamerrillberkeley@yahoo.com> wrote:
> 10/15 Need Advice AND Repairs (1991 GMC Vandura)
>
> Hello, car persons!
>
> My Vanagon's younger sibling is a 1991 GMC Vandura 2500. Let's call
> her "E".
>
> I have E since the beginning of July 2013.
> Right after that purchase, I had her radiator re-cored and got new
> rear tires. New front
> brakes, a kill switch, serpentine Belt & tensioner, front rotors, and
> a new water pump
> followed.
>
> In the middle of this year, E started quietly dying when I slowed for
> stops in-town.
> While this worried me a lot, it helped that she was easy to start
> again.
>
> In late June, the fuel pump was replaced "Without dropping the tank"?,
> and she stalled at slowing speeds two more times right after that
> repair. I told the shop owner about that, and he was quite
> dismissive.
>
> Now more stalls for a few weeks.
> Her coolant leak jumped into a flood, and the same shop owner had E
> for over two weeks before he replaced the intake manifold.
> She stalled five-seven times on the first drive from the shop, and
> then would not start. No electricity to the starter, said a
> helper-by. Same shop owner came, got her going, and then put a new
> starter in.
> (These repairs then totalled $1,500.)
>
> CvAnd E instantly smelled "gassy" in her cab, had clearly diminished
> power at very slow speeds -- and went from 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 mpg to about
> 6.2 mpg in town. And stays at 6.2+-
>
> Now, about four weeks later, last weekend she stalled going up a steep
> hill, and the engine turned over very well but would not Re-start.
> So, a friendly policeman got a friendly two truck driver to take her
> off the hill, tow her about 500 yards, put gas in her, Still, the
> engine turned over very well but would not Re-start.
> A volvo mechanic friend told me to Prime the Fuel pump by turning the
> ignition key on and Of about 30 times. I did that, started E, and
> bought 1/2 tank of gas.
>
> Worked "fine for about three days, and then stalled pulling into a
> parking lots on Wednes..
> The "ignition key trick" worked again, E started and we parked.
> A two hours later, E stalled while driving downhill toward a stop sign
> on Wednesday night, after driving for about one mile . . .
>
>
> NOW E Will Not start -- turns over really
> well, but does not "start."
>
> HELP!!! What will Really Fix this?
>
> I have a big, event-related driving trip coming
> up for NEXT THURSDAY!!!
> E and I have already made this round trip
>
>
>
> WHO can suggest diagnoses, remedies,
> and a great/reliable/economical LOCAL
> Bay Area repair person for me???
>
> I am So out of trust, . . . , and I WANT to take
> E on my trip! -- I do most of my driving in
> Her, and she needs to start and stay running
> NOW!!!
>
> Who has GOOD IDEAS and repairers to suggest?
>
>
> Thank you so much!
>
> Really distressed,
>
> Linda
>
> In Berkeley
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: J Stewart <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET>
> Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
> Date: Fri, 16 Oct 2015 12:46:26
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Reply-To: J Stewart <fonman4277@COMCAST.NET>
> Subject: Re: 10/15 Need Advice AND Repairs (1991 GMC Vandura) in
> BERKELEY,
> Calif.
>
> I know a bit about them I've had several, but this is one of those times
> I'm getting the response, but not the original message, as others here have
> reported. Jeff
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> > Anything this age is pretty much a specialty vehicle at this point.
> Meaning
> > the average garage does not see them very often anymore and may not be
> able
> > to properly diagnose problems without some pain and frustration and
> expense.
> > I would do the same thing you did with your vanagon- seek out a specific
> > forum for that vehicle. I'm sure there are people out there that know the
> > GM vans of that vintage like Dennis knows vanagons.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of
> > Linda Merrill
> > Sent: Friday, October 16, 2015 3:17 AM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: 10/15 Need Advice AND Repairs (1991 GMC Vandura) in BERKELEY,
> > Calif.
>
> > 10/15 Need Advice AND Repairs (1991 GMC Vandura)
>
> > Hello, car persons!
>
> > My Vanagon's younger sibling is a 1991 GMC
> > Vandura 2500. Let's call her "E".
>
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