Date:         Wed, 10 Mar 1999 10:33:10 -0600
Reply-To:     "Christopher H. Stinson" <stinson@MAIL.OLIN.WUSTL.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Christopher H. Stinson" <stinson@MAIL.OLIN.WUSTL.EDU>
Subject:      '86 automatic Vanagon won't start
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Problem: When I turn the ignition key in my '86 automatic Vanagon, the engine
turns over but doesn't start.

Remedies attempted to date: I have replaced the fuel filter (from a
"California behind-the-fuel-pump" metal filter to a "before-the-fuel-pump"
plastic-cube fuel filter), the fuel pump, the coil, and the fuel pump relay.
I replaced the fuel pump because the old pump wasn't engaging when I
linked the appropriate circiuts in the ECU and the fuel pump relay because
it was cheap and I wasn't sure how to test it.  I replaced the coil
because I was getting ambiguous readings with my voltmeter from the ECU.
I replaced the fuel filter in case it was clogged.

Possibly relevant fact: Summer 1998 when I was driving from Austin to
St. Louis, I had a close-encounter-of-the-5-mph-kind with a semitruck.
The truck's rear steel bumper (which extended 2 feet from the truck body)
pushed in the front of my Vanagon.  I have tried to pull out the dents
and, as best as I can tell (which may not mean much), I don't see any
damage to front-end parts.  The main dent was above the radiator and
cracked the top of the driver's side headlights (which have been replaced).

I welcome *any* suggestions for what to do next.  Thanks!

Chris

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Christopher H. Stinson (stinson@mail.olin.wustl.edu)

visiting Accounting Faculty Member 1 July 1998 - 31 May 1999:
Olin School of Business
One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1133
Washington University
St. Louis, Missouri 63130-4899
phone: 314-935-6349     fax: 314-935-6359     cell: 512-413-6419

on leave from:
Department of Accounting B6400
College of Business Administration
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas 78712-1172