Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2017 16:16:44 -0800
Reply-To: stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: occasional hesitation
In-Reply-To: <CAKbau51CqFgCu3ELY7P_QjmCWTCWYgioHHRrhwO8sBXn-Etm1Q@mail.gmail.com>
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I hope you have a Propex! What is that filter on the upper left for? Your symptoms are indicative of a fuel problem, which would include water in the tank. Have you ever resealed the tank? That includes the overflow bottles in the wheel wells, they can crack from road debris and the grommet on top can fail.
Merry Christmas!
Stuart
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Mark McCulley
Sent: Saturday, December 23, 2017 4:00 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: occasional hesitation
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. The engine was covered with a layer of windblown snow when I opened the hatch:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/PVZnD0hrPiisjhWH2
I checked the TPS, it was good, and measured the voltage from the OXS as 0.43V with the key on.
Reseated the TPS and AFM connectors. Got a bottle of Iso-Heet and poured it into the gas tank.
I've driven about 5 miles with no incidents of hesitation. Water in the gas sound plausible, the trouble started immediately after fueling up in Missoula. Keeping fingers crossed, heading into Yellowstone Park tomorrow.
-Mark
On Sat, Dec 23, 2017 at 8:45 AM, Mark McCulley <mark.mcculley@gmail.com>
wrote:
> I'm on a road trip for the holidays, van has been mostly running great
> but have had some intermittent episodes of roughness. Hoping to get
> some suggestions for things to check when I have an opportunity to do
> so (single digit temps today, no garage).
>
> First noticed on beginning of second day, leaving Missoula, just a
> couple of hesitations when accelerating onto the freeway on ramp. As
> long as I was holding at steady cruising speed, very smooth but if I
> let off the gas for any reason, then hesitations again.
>
> I noticed the symptons again yesterday, this time mostly when changing
> gears. Smells like it's running rich. Come to think of it I noticed
> that smell a few weeks before setting out, well before I noticed any
> hesitations.
>
> - The first thing that comes to mind is the TPS, I will check that.
> - I have spare distributor cap and rotor, but only 7K miles on the
> existing ones.
> - I have spare plugs, 17K on the existing ones (W7DTC). Inspected 7K
> miles ago and looked fine.
> - I have the AFM harness with the capacitor, and have never had a
> problem with Vanagon syndrome.
>
> It probably wouldn't hurt to change all those ignition components...
>
> I'm a bit suspicious of the O2 sensor, is there an easy way to confirm
> if it's OK? What does ECU do when O2 sensor is unplugged?
>
> Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
>
> -Mark
> 87 syncro Westy
>