Date:         Sat, 5 Jul 1997 19:18:22 -0400
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Craig Rogers <carogers@idt.net>
Subject:      RE: '86 still plagued! (was rich running)

Hi Tony,

I failed to mention the problem with exhaust leaks.  Small exhaust leaks, 
prior to the catalytic converter will cause all sorts of problems if the O2 
sensor is connected.  You can check by having someone cover the tail pipe 
with their hand (with a leather glove on) and find by feeling for small 
blasts of air.  Do this with the engine cold and check the head connections 
first because they get hot first.
Also, try really advancing the timing.  When I was having these problems, I 
was running it really advanced (15 degrees btdc or so) and with the idle 
mixture all the way open (actually, not quite, you don't want to go out 
past where the air is leaking in through the top of the adjusting screw). 
 The screw stayed in that area until I replaced the air box and now it's 
almost closed.  I guess that tells you something.  I think I got the timing 
straightened out at the same time, but like I said before, I also had the 3 
ECUs that I was swapping all the time.
Also check the connections on the sockets for the ECU and the air box 
(along with continuity which is checked when you go through the list in 
Bentley, where you take measurements from the ECU plug to determine if the 
injection system is working).   If these are bad they could cause 
intermittent problems.
By the way, I was able to disassemble, clean, and reassemble the vacuum 
solenoids and save a quick $50 each.  I wasn't able to repair the aux. air 
regulator, so I removed it and sealed of the hoses. This one lasted about 
20K and I think they cost about $75. The engine warms up fine with out it 
(summer), so I'll just wait and see what happens as the year progresses. 
 At worst, I save a few  K on next regulator.  At best, I decide I don't 
need it. I hate parts that don't last.
 Anyway, I'm back to it running dangerously close to perfectly, which is 
really all you can ask from a real world system.  The only thing wrong with 
it now is the cap and rotor contacts corrode in just a couple of thousand 
miles.  I wonder if anyone else has experienced this?


 Craig Rogers
Ineffable Audio Unity Inc.
P.O. Box 512
Riverdale, NY 10471
(914) 378-1606
mailto: carogers@idt.net

'85 Wolfsburg Weekender