Date: Tue, 19 May 1998 23:15:27 -0700
Reply-To: Malcolm Holser <mholser@ADOBE.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Malcolm Holser <mholser@ADOBE.COM>
Subject: Re: Am I Crazy, Sane or Dreaming? re: Surging
> > A mechanic has started initial investigation and is looking at replacing
> > the air flow sensor to a tune of about $500 Canadian! This is alot more
> > than I was hoping it would be, you know, bad gas, faulty timing,
> > disconnected hose, etc...all of which are around $50!!!
>
> A few responded with difinitive ideas, mostly on the o2 sensor and idle
> stabilizer. I took these suggestions to my, that, mechanic and he said
> he had done all tehse tests as well as had replaced some of the grounds.
> He still believed it was the air-flow sensor. We ordered it, but maybe
> thankfully, he got the wrong one so I'm still waiting.
>
> I decided I'd have a look....
>
Now, at least, you are going to the right mechanic...
> When I rec'd the van from my mechanic I thought it seemed sluggish. I've
> also been getting about 14mpg since then too, that's 12mpg for you
> American folk! I noticed the o2 lead was disconnected at the connector
> by the coil.
Who is this mechanic? Sounds a lot like Earnest P. Warrell....
> I'm assuming it's the o2 as it has a single wire that plugs
> into a sensor on the exhaust just before the cat.
Yeah, that's the lambda sensor...
> I also thought I'd
> disconnect the two leads running into the idle stab (square mounted on
> drivers side of engine bay just ahead of coil that has male-female,
> 3-prong with alignment tooth connectors, #251-906-083 followed by 12V,
> 371 281 380) and join them bypassing the idle stab as Tim Smith suggested
> (thanks Tim). Discouragingly I noticed that the connectors were still
> coverted in dirt/grease lending me to believe that my mechanic had not
> done this test (he said he had) as after I'd finally disconnected them
> they were quite clean simply by handling them.
>
These things do go bad. Try plugging it back together again. A reasonable
thing to disconnect.
> I then thought I pull the front plug, driver's side just to check. Threw
> the socket on and it turned losely!!! Took it out and the washer on the
> plug had corrosion on it...I don't think that plug was tight! They are
> Bosch Super RO 662. It had a "rusty-coloured" appearance and a bit of
> black around the anode or whatever. I don't think it loooked bad.
>
Mebbe that mechanic is Earnest's stupider brother.
> I took the van out for an extended spin, 15min high speed. No stalling,
> not even dropping close to stall point. It simply hunts slightly around
> 6-800 rpm. I also noticed my performance (ha-ha) was back to normal. I
> have left the idle stab off and will be using the van tomorrow, any probs
> in this?
>
> Am I making sense...am I onto something or am I nuts? Your comments I
> look forward to. TIA Bruce
Sounds like you are getting to be a better mechanic in a few minutes than the
guy who is getting your bread. I *rarely* find a good mechanic, and it is
pure joy when I happen to. Normally I can screw up my car just fine all on
my lonesome, without paying some turkey for the job! At least I then know
who to go to to complain. A few tools here and there, a few books, a VW --
all the trappings of a hobby.
Malcolm
No, you are not insane -- many mechanics are that bad. I recently found a
good one (and a neighbor, to boot!) and actually have started taking some
of my work to him (otherwise my cars get sadly neglected).
Malcolm
