Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 15:06:07 EST
Reply-To: vmontgo32@JUNO.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Victor Montgomery <vmontgo32@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: Burned FI wiring
I am trying not to go down the road of everyone changing out parts to see
what will or not work. Prior to the problem, a new fuel tank, gas lines,
fuel pump and filter were installed on the vehicle. Rust and other fuel
trash is not a consideration. All injectors have also been replaced,
leaving the problem to another area as all injectors check out OK. I am
dealing with the VW dealer in the area and will not deal with his
subcontract shop and will hold the dealer responsible for all warranties,
etc. Time will prove whether the dealer was a wise choice. I cannot
understand why a master VW tech is not available in upper South Carolina.
My regular shop is not set up to handle fuel injection and only handles
carbureted older vehicles and is willing to change it over, but at the
expense of a minimum of 5 miles per gallon. Hopefully this will not have
to be done and the FI can be fixed. Time will tell, but I will NOT go
down the road of random "see if this works" repairs.
thanks, Victor...
<a couple of years ago my van stopped working - I did notice a hard
klong noise from the back but thought it was related to some wheel
mechanics or so and had it checked.The shop said everything fine than the
car stopped alltogether.>
<I learned so far that this sound is the first sympyom of a bad
injector. The story that unfolded from there was horrible : car got towed
and the mechanics started to work on the system. replaced the wires, fuel
pumps a whole lot of things - didn't work. And then they farmed out the
job to a VW Dealer in CT - wow what a bunch of morons they were, quoted
me some $1500 via my shop the computer would be bad. It appeared to me
that everybody was trying to sytematically replace
every component hoping it would do the trick !
They had no clue... "we are No.1 VW service facility..." In short this
farming out is a bad idea, you should be the one customer who deals with
one competent facility and there is the issue of contractual legal
situations and warranty.
As so often with the Vanagon it is merely a matter of something tiny
and stupid that you need to find (in my case a $60 injector and the right
tests did it...) if you let others tinker you end up spending a lot and
not necessarily in the right direction.
This list and the attitude that suits me has made my car reliable and
inexpensive to maintain, however be aware, let us know where you live
I am sure someone can recommend competence in your area and/or the right
path to fix the problem.
Onkel Max>>
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