Date: Sun, 8 Jun 1997 22:27:27 -0700 (PDT)
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Erik C Peterson <n9541548@scooter.cc.wwu.edu>
Subject: Re: so that's what it was!
Ron,
The oxygen sensor is a regularly scheduled replacement item. Check with
your maintenance schedule. There is no service reminder light on 1988
and later models, most of which have a 60,000 mile interval. Or just
have a shop equipped with the right testing equipment test it. Testing
is different for sensors depending on what FI system you have.
Erik Peterson
Vehicle Research Institute
On Sun, 8 Jun 1997, Ron Clayton wrote:
> Hello Vanagoners!?:
>
> I am new to the list so excuse me if I miss some net protocol or other.
>
> I've been following the conversation about the o2 sensor with some
> interest.................................I did not know about the reset
> button=8A pity!
>
> Here is my story: In 1984 I ordered from the factory a brand new
> marine blue Wolfsberg edition weekender with the curtain and screen
> package, wide whale corduroy seats, gray stripe =8Ashe was a beauty!
>
> 18K miles on sabbatical trip to DC. And the heads fail. I was fortunate
> enough to be near Christiansberg VA. Where a really good dealership
> mechanic did the rebuild, I rented a car and went back to DC. For a week.
> VW of America picked up the tab and I had no more serious trouble until
> around 90k when, you guessed it, the -light- comes on. At this point I'm
> living 200 miles away from the nearest dealership and a shade tree mechanic
> in Jonesboro AR sez to me: SheEOOT! =8ADon't mean nothin' but instead of
> punching that reset button he disconnected the o2 sensor! =8AEngine begins
> running rich, no one can set the idle properly, cat.converter eventually
> burns out. I still got 120k miles out of her but she never was quite
> right, often had gas in the oil and other associated problems. Ironically
> it was not the engine but the automatic transmission that finally did her
> in, another botched repair, this time of a simple O-ring seal leak! In
> 1992 traded her in on a new '91 burgundy and gray GL with all the extras.
> The Dealer told me he sent old blue off to California where "they're a lot
> more popular and someone will appreciate her enough to do the needed work".
> Aside from a slight ding in the sliding door just ahead of the rear wheel
> well she was pristine inside and out.
>
> Postscript: my '91 does not have the illconceived dash light and she is
> nearing her 90k milestone, I really love her too so how do I know when the
> o2 sensor actually does need attending to?
>
> '91 GL
> Living in Cape Girardeau, MO
> Artist/College Professor.
>
>
>
>
>
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