Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2016 14:28:17 -1000
Reply-To: "SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott )" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott )" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Update #2 - Re: Vanagon syndrome...it sucks!
In-Reply-To: <4b9cac3f-07bd-4ffd-a6b7-ddfeb86c6a12@me.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
Vanagon Electrinic Fuel Injection can be tricky and obtuse to get
running right ..
but not really that hard..
especially after you've found the solutions to your particular case.
Like in retrospect..
why didn't I discover where the glitches were sooner in the process ?
for sure..do every test you can find in the Bentley manual for your fuel
injection type ....tempo sensor resistance and all that.
For sure...triple check every single electrical connection and ground
you can find.
In some cases..this even means continuity checking from the ECU pin all
the way to whatever device or gizmo you're investigating.
I would also say, unless one is perhaps a serious electronic engineer or
some kind of geek like that..
one MUST have known good Electrical/electronic units to try. Must.
Can't really get anywhere without say ...a spare known good and
tested-as-soon-as-you-get-it good used distributor,
ditto ECU. AFM, temp sensors ...all the things that talk to the ecu .
Then, between testing and inspecting things ..like fuel pressure,
filter, fuel delivery, ALL Ground wires everywhere ...and everything you
can measure,
plus your test parts ..you have a good chance.
typical case I just had ...not a Vanagon, but a very similar Bosch
Electronic Fuel Injection system.
Car was running, but sitting in a very wet environment.
Then wouldn't start.
I check and clean all the connections I can find, test a few things like
Temp Sensor ...
still no ignition ( and probably no injector pulse either ) ...
I pop on a used coil ...it runs !
Must have been that.
3 weeks later ..just won't start and run. I have a spare Air Mass Meter,
crankshaft position sensor, temp sensor, coil , and igniter. Nothing
makes it run.
The ECU is mounted ...so dumb..right next to a front fender ..
bad corrosion on it.
I get a good used ECU from a dry climate..running again .
I never could have gotten to a reasonable suspicion of a bad ECU without
checking every contact and connection I could find, and having some
spare parts to try.
anything intermittant is a lot tricker of course.
Running with 02 disconnected is useful ..
part of what I call 'substitue and bypass' diagnositc strategy ..
if you take that input to the ECU out of the picture..and things are
different ..that means something.
You likely would have solid reliablilty with that conversion.
As I understand it, he does only one version ( where, say, subaru
conversions, of which I've done numerous ) can be based on many
different versions and years and engines ...
making each conversion fairly 'custom' ..
where the ford-based conversion ...They built the harness as a new part
possibly ...everything is very standardized ...there are few things I
don't think are perfect...but probably would be almost boringly reliable.
"It's just a blockage or leakage of fluids or electrons."
Scott
On 4/11/2016 5:20 AM, Jason Ellis wrote:
> Ok,
>
>
> Went for a drive on the interstate this weekend Had the syndrome
> hiccups even with the AFM pigtail! Ugh.... So, I unplugged the O2
> sensor and everything drove fine for 40 miles. Unfortunately, this
> doesn't really mean much, but we'll see if this fixes it.
>
>
>
>
>
> Sad, the engine runs pretty good and has OK oil pressure. This issue
> is pushing me to do a Bostig! I need reliability! I also hate to
> spend $$ on an AFM, then $$ on cooling lines, exhaust, etc. Yes I
> know its a drop compared to a Bostig conversion, but at what point do
> you say enough? Just go all in!
>
>
>
>
> Maybe I should start looking at Megasquirt again.....
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Let's hope that this does it for a while.
>
>
>
>
> Jason
>
>
> On Apr 07, 2016, at 11:09 AM, Jason Ellis <jason.ellis@me.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I wanted to post a follow up to my syndrome issues.
>
>
> I changed the Temp2 sender, unplugged the O2 sensor and had soldered
> in a 35V 22uF capacitor. I ended up getting surging while driving
> around town which had never happened before. I can't get my O2 sensor
> out and a new one is sitting on the work bench. I may have a little
> cat bypass pipe made with an O2 bung in it.
>
>
>
>
>
> Peter Lapp driveway camped with us last weekend and was kind enough to
> give me one of the VW AFM pigtails. I removed my capacitor and plugged
> in the pigtail. So far, so good! We'll see when I get it on the
> freeway this weekend.
>
>
>
>
>
> Once again, thanks for all the help!
>
>
>
>
>
> Jason
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mar 21, 2016, at 11:02 AM, Jason Ellis <jason.ellis@me.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Just wanted to say that you guys are awesome. I had completely
> forgotten about how the O2 and Temp2 sensors play into this. I had the
> blinders on!
>
>
>
>
>
> Let me do some work and get back to you guys!
>
>
>
>
>
> Jason
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> On Mar 21, 2016, at 10:54 AM, Dan N <dn92610@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I am no specialist in the vanagon syndrome but all the vanagon I own has
> that problem..
>
> as suggested the O2 sensor, the temp2 sensor, the throttle body switch
> all
> can give the syndrome...
>
> as for the AFM the things to do is cleaning the the carbon track, add the
> capacitor or the pig tail harness. Another thing to check is the AFM
> harness it self, it has to be in good condition and the cable is not too
> tight...
>
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