Date:         Tue, 23 Jun 1998 17:32:16 -0700
Reply-To:     Otmar Ebenhoech <Otmar@EVCL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Otmar Ebenhoech <Otmar@EVCL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Last chance! (was: need assistance)
Comments: To: David Ohlemacher <Dave@OHLEMACHER.COM>, Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
In-Reply-To:  <01BD9EE0.6F52C440@day-oh15-56.ix.netcom.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 7:52 PM -0400 6/23/98, David Ohlemacher wrote:
>I probably shouldn't be writing this having just spent another 3
>frustrating hours trying to get the hunk of junk 86 Vanagon GL running,
>but here goes, I am sure the distributor and wires are hooked up
>correctly, I'm sure because I've tried every combination, and this is the
>only one in which the van will even start!  The cat and muffler are not
>clogged, the O2 sensor tests good, the control unit test fine (tests
>according to Bentleys) everything is just fine, yet it is running so rich
>that when the cat was on, it would make it glow!
>
>Help, help, help, help, help!
>Dave

Important question, is it just running rich? Or is it misfiring and
therefore pouring raw gas to the cat?

Have you tried running with the O2 sensor disconnected? That would make the
ECU select an average input. I was just thinking that maybe the ground to
it is bad causing all readings to be offset. You didn't use silicone sealer
where fumes could get to the O2 sensor? If it's really rich then the 02
sensor should be off scale (I forget, is rich over .8V or under .1V?).

Maybe check the temperature sensor values for the temperature you are at
according to the graphs in the Bentley manual. Again a bad ground would
wreak havoc. FI uses temperature for everything. If it doesn't think it is
warm it won't even use the 02 sensor.

The fact that the cat was dead before means that this could be a old
problem that killed your old cat.

Does it idle well? If not, cold start injector could be leaking. Do 86's
have them?

Bad fuel pressure regulator? too high pressure? (never seen this myself,
but could cause it)

HTH


 -Otmar-
72(front),73(rear),76,78,82,87(parts) Stretch bus
82 A3 GTI Westfalia turning into a hybrid electric Stretch
Several EVs (Electric Vehicles)
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