Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2015 18:38:00 -0500
Reply-To: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Larry Alofs <lalofs@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: 85 GL. 1.9 Woes- like whoa, won't go....
In-Reply-To: <04CAD4A4-2717-4183-BBF4-514A90009B80@gmail.com>
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Assuming it will idle, I would start by pulling each spark plug wire out of
the distributor cap one at a time and replacing it before trying the next
one. You're looking for the one that does not change the idle speed when
removed. If you find one or two like that, those cylinders are not
firing. If the gas in that cylinder is not getting burned, it comes out
the exhaust and give a rich fuel smell.
If this seems to be the case, I would pull that plug and check if it is
wet or otherwise suspect. Wet plugs can often be dried effectively with
compressed air to get a fresh start. This is just one possible starting
point. I'm sure people will suggest others.
Oh, don't lean against or touch the van while messing with the spark
plug wires. :-)
Larry A.
On Wed, Nov 18, 2015 at 5:55 PM, Dave Bohannan <fjazzbass@gmail.com> wrote:
> Volks
>
> This all started out with what seemed like a classic case of Vanagon
> Intermittent Syndrome, but has turned into a full blown “she won’t go”…
>
> When she gave me a hard time about a month ago, I had recently purchased a
> new ignition switch and for kicks decided to swap that and see if the
> problem went away…wow, it seemed like it did…also, my lame horn seemed to
> work again, AND the seatbelt safety light that used to stay on all the time
> decided that it would work normally again!
>
> Well, I swapped the switch back to the old one to see if I could reproduce
> the problem…no dice…the problem was fixed….
>
> So I drove a month or so and was in vanagon la la land when all of a
> sudden…..power loss AGAIN!…and……now we’re back….and again….
>
> Need less to say….I’m befuddled- I have a “newish” fuel pump on this thing
> so that might be one of the places I check first…maybe new isn’t much
> better…
>
> I’ve also (because I own spare parts) swapped the idle control module and
> the computer to no avail…
>
> At current, it runs like a tractor and sounds pretty bad- smells STRONG of
> RICH fuel…
>
> Any recommendations on STARTING points for official troubleshooting would
> be much appreciated…
>
> THANKS IN ADVANCE….so happy to have you all….
>
> Dave
> 85 GL driver….
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