Date:         Sun, 5 Apr 1998 21:03:04 -0500
Reply-To:     "Robert S. Williams, MD" <rwill@DIGITECHS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Robert S. Williams, MD" <rwill@DIGITECHS.COM>
Subject:      gas tank overflows, engine probs
Comments: To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Hi all,

Just got a lovely 1982 Aircooled Westie (with FI and standard
distrib/points). This weekend I replaced the poptop and luggage rack seals
and put in new rear hatch struts. I have a couple of problems with the
vehicle that I am hoping the list can help me sort out.

1) when I fill up the tank at the gas station, the tank just overflows onto
the ground from somewhere under the vehicle instead of triggering the gas
pump backpressure shutoff in the pump handle. Is this usual? How do you
tell at the gas station when you have a full tank?

2) when I start the vehicle (cold engine only), it turns over fine and runs
for about 5 to 8 seconds then it dies unless I catch it at exactly the
right moment and sort-of gun the engine with the gas pedal and keep it
alive until the engine warms up. The engine starts and runs just fine on
its own ... till just about the time that the seatbelt warning buzzer stops
buzzing and the panel lights shut off. (5 seconds or so) then the engine
just dies out unless I judiciously press the accelerator. If the engine is
warm, the problem goes away and the engine starts up and idles just fine.
Any ideas on what is causing this?

Anyway, I've been reading the list now for about a month and found the
discussions to be interesting : but it seems more centered on issues of
Wasserboxer engines and synchro stuff....  still interesting to read. Any
help via E-Mail or via the list would be greatly appreciated.


                                Robert S. Williams, MD
                                                             82 aircooled
westie