> > OK, here's the latest weirdnesses with my 81 Westfalia... > > Weirdness #1: the cold-start engine noise. It sounds like baseball cards in > the spokes of your bicycle wheels, for those of us old enough to remember > before baseball cards were "collector's items" and there was no reason not > to casually destroy them. The noise diminishes but does not disappear > completely when the bus is in gear and rolling, louder in neutral. Also > louder when braking or facing downhill (center of gravity shifted forward). > After 5 minutes or so the noise stops and will not recur until I park it > and let the engine get _completely_ cold, like all day or overnight. Even > after sitting for an hour or so -- no noise on restart. It sounds more like > plastic than metal, I've tried sticking my head into the engine compartment > but I can't seem to localize it.

Sounds like stuck lifter. Try my favorite fix: All quart of ATF fluid, run till good and hot or until fixed. Then drain and refill with oil.

> > Weirdness #2: the not-hot-start. When the engine is *really* hot, like > after a couple of hours of highway driving in 95-degree weather with the > a/c running, if I stop briefly (like for gas) when I try to start her up > the engine turns over veeeerrrrry slowly and reluctantly, and won't catch. > I have to sit for about 10 more minutes, and then she starts right up. I've > also gotten it push-started by getting it rolling only as fast as I could > push it by myself on a level surface, probably 5 mph max.

Could be a couple of things. As a diagnostic, retard the timing and see if that doesn't cure it. If it does, it's a distributor sticking. If it doesn't, starter could be binding when hot.

TBill

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