Date:         Sat, 20 Dec 1997 17:42:34 -0800
Reply-To:     "Peter W. Stein" <pwstein@WENET.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.sdsc.edu>
From:         "Peter W. Stein" <pwstein@WENET.NET>
Subject:      Water injection and long term damage
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hello listees, I don't want to get into a "trash the shop" discussion,
but I believe it was the ineptness of the dealer's mechanic that left my
air intake snorkel unconnected and exposed. They recently did the recall
work on the fuel filler tube/tank which is right next to the snorkel.

It was this physical situation that, after a huge rainstorm recently,
led to my cyclone becoming totally submerged in water and said liquid
lapped up into the air filter area, completely soaking the filter (and
I'm sure all throttle/injection equipment farther down the line, also).
I didn't know this was happening until van suddenly lurches to near
stall, and acts choked or plugged, muffler heated up incredibly, and
symptoms disappear when key is turned off then on again. 15 - 20 seconds
later it reappears.

Facts:
didn't diagnose until 6 days later, only test driven during this time
replaced fouled plugs, filter
dosed 1/4 tank of gas with fuel injection cleaner
removed all visible moisture from air filter housing / cyclone
when it ran correctly, it ran just fine

last fact...
after all of the above, symptoms still exist but not as severe. (driven
5 miles)

Questions...
I should pull all injection components and dry / clean, eh?
Is it the computer making an adjustment when prob starts 15 - 20 sec
after ignition? (warm)
Do I start filing court papers?
Napa employee mentioned the water prob'ly cleaned my valves, is that the
wet black ink spitting from my exhaust?
Should I put a bunch of miles on her to run the "cleaner" thru, or do
the injection system deconstruction first?

I guess I want people to read this, so I'll stop here while you are
still awake.

Thanks for any response, email or list,

Peter W. Stein
"Illy" 86 Syncro Westy