Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (October 1997)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:   Tue, 14 Oct 1997 11:06:31 -0700
Reply-To:   Tom Young <young@SHERLOCK.SIMS.BERKELEY.EDU>
Sender:   Vanagon mailing list <Vanagon@Gerry.SDSC.EDU>
From:   Tom Young <young@SHERLOCK.SIMS.BERKELEY.EDU>
Subject:   Re: O2 mixture questions
Comments:   To: db25 <Douglas_M_BENSEN@UMAIL.UMD.EDU>
In-Reply-To:   <199710141738.NAA14788@umailsrv0.umd.edu>
Content-Type:   TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Tue, 14 Oct 1997, db25 wrote:

> I have several questions when it comes to adjusting my mixture using the > oxygen sensor. > 1. Do I have to disconnect the sensor with the engine off? The > computer will have a memory if I don't. Does it matter? Can I > leave the sensor connected to the computer to read the voltage?

I've always understood that the engine should be off when you disconnect the O2 sensor. Since very little seems to be known about Bosch ECU's inner workings, (at least, I know very little about their inner workings) I have to answer in a practical fashion; it doesn't seem to matter on my '81 van. (The ECU on my '81 is so old, it probably doesn't HAVE any writtable memory.)

I wouldn't think leaving the sensor connected would make much sense, as it would be giving feedback to the ECU, and the ECU would try to hold the mixture at "ideal" by varying the pulse width. The Bently manual tells you to disconnect the O2 sensor when setting idle mixture using your CO sensor (I wish!!)

[snip]

> I realize I have asked a lot of questions, but I don't want to ruin > anything. I have a digital meter, but it is very difficult to get a reading > because of the pulsing. When the engine is running either rich, or lean, > the voltage reads steady. As soon as I get out of the far reaches of the > scale the pulsing makes reading the voltage difficult. Any suggestions > would be appreciated.

I think that's what you're supposed to see. When I've set my idle mixture with my DVM I never see a steady voltage around the proper set-point. I watch and adjust until the fluctuations hitting above and below the right voltage seems about even.

--------------------------------------------------------------------- Tom Young young@sherlock.SIMS.Berkeley.EDU Lafayette, CA 94549 '81 Vanagon ---------------------------------------------------------------------


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.