Date:         Mon, 3 Aug 1998 19:31:47 -0500
Reply-To:     David Chasteen <dchaz@GTE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         David Chasteen <dchaz@GTE.NET>
Subject:      Brain Death
Comments: To: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

I know that the wisdom of the list says that ECUs seldom fail, but in lieu of a better explanation, this is what I seem to have.  I wont recap the long problem I have had except to summarize:

1982 Vanagon GL Westy air-cooled, non-California (no O2 sensor)
replaced the t2 sensor twice
replaced the wiring harness (thanks Kyle, mine was ready to go)
all FI components check out per haynes manual (voltages, resistance, etc)
grounds all are cleaned and well connected (engine, batt and tranny)

After I replaced the wiring harness tonight, I started it up fine.  Reached down and tapped the connector to the ECU and it died.  Started back up and it started that some old running rich and smoky and would only run with the gas pedal 1/2 way down, and then really badly.  It appears I have checked all components that I can.  No sticking cold start valve, no bad thermo-time switch, AFM checks good, etc.
Only thing I can come to is that the ECU is bad.  Some kind of component that is:
1.  sensitive to vibration, and
2.  sensitive to heat, and
3.  is directly related to the engine enrichment/fuel control

I guess my question is two part:
1.  Is there any way to troubleshoot the ECU other than taking it to the dealer (40 miles away), and
2. Does anyone know where I can get a good ECU for less than the 5-600 dollars I have seen them quoted in RMMW and elsewhere?

Thanks,
Chaz
'82 Westy "Peewee"
Brownfield, Texas

[text/html]