Date:         Tue, 7 Apr 1998 09:39:42 -0700
Reply-To:     John Thomas <jthomas@CRUZIO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         John Thomas <jthomas@CRUZIO.COM>
Subject:      84 Engine hesitatation while cruising
Comments: To: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

We have had a problem with our 84 Vanagon for the last 6 months or so
that although it is not serious, concerns me.

We will be driving along at maybe 55 or so and the engine will hesitate
(misfire) and then recover and be fine.  Usually it will then reoccur at
random intervals of anywhere from 1 to 5 minutes.  Usually if we stop,
it will not do it again for awhile.

It  only happens when the engine is warm and never on trips around
town.  It happened a lot on our last ski trip at high elevations but it
also has happened near Santa Cruz which is at sea level.  It has never
gotten so bad that we feel we have to stop.
It does not happen just when the engine is under load and in fact seems
to happen more when it is just cruising along.

I recently had the head and head gasket replaced and at the same time I
had them do a tuneup and asked them to look for anything that might
cause this problem.   I was hoping that it would go away.  But guess
what, it did it once (but only once) this weekend.

I have checked the archives and didn't find anything but for something
like this it is hard to be sure that one uses the right search words.

We are leaving on a trip this Wednesday night,  and thought it might be
valuable to hear from anyone else that has seen this problem.  Then if I
am out in the middle of the Mohave desert and it won't run, I can give
the mechanic some clues of what might be wrong.

Any ideas?

John and Audrey
Playmobile - 84 Westy