Date:         Tue, 27 May 1997 15:03:40 -0230 (NDT)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Philip Menchions <pbj2003@infonet.st-johns.nf.ca>
Subject:      Re: no start/road trip--finis

On Mon, 26 May 1997, Philip Menchions wrote:

> Thanks to all who replied to wife trying to get husband home after his 89 
> westie broke down on a road trip.  It wouldn't start although it was 
> cranking. 
> 
> It appears to have been caused by a loose distributor and a timing gone 
> out of wack.
> 
> Me, my husband (who is on his way home) and our daughter thanks all.
> 
> Phil, Carol, and Tatiana
> 
> 
Unfortunately not quite home yet. This is Phil in the flesh so to speak. 
I relented yesterday and brought the van to a shop where they puzzled 
over it for a few hours before calling in the boss, Franz. (No kidding)
 
He soon had the loose distributor clamped down and the timing fixed and I 
was on my way. This morning I awoke to the same no start problem. I 
grasped the dis. cap and turned it (there was a small amount of play that 
seems normal?) The van started O.K. Drove about 200 miles with acouple of 
stops/restarts no problem  but it died on the hiway once again and would 
not restart. 
 
Could there be something wrong with the "guts" of the distributor?
(Luckily I've broken down near internet access. The tow operator thought 
it strange to bring me to the library) I'm stil 200 miles from home. I 
have Bently with me. And am about to start taking things apart. Any 
suggestions.
 
Phil '89 Westy