Date:         Wed, 30 Jun 1999 23:06:27 -0500
Reply-To:     j fritz <jfritz@DECORAH.K12.IA.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         j fritz <jfritz@DECORAH.K12.IA.US>
Subject:      Re: '89 Vanagon 10 years of Curiosities and Observations
Comments: To: mlichtenberger <mlichtenberger@HOTMAIL.COM>
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;

         Reply to:   RE: '89 Vanagon 10 years of Curiosities and Observations



Michael:
> It stumbles away from a stop (again with the
>pedal feathering to keep it running) except now it bogs down if you give it
>too much gas and only accelerates when you find the "sweet spot" with the
>gas pedal.
>
>By the way, this condition is intermittent and totally unreproduceable at my
>mechanic's place. It seems to happen on damp nights more than any other
>time, but has happened in all temps, humidity and seasons.

I too am suffering with this.  There is poor power/acceleration at low rpmin first gear but a power surge when I approach 2000 rpm. Its awful with the AC running.  If I accelerate prior to releasing the clutch (which I know is bad for my clutch!) just to have a quicker start in heavy city traffic its usually a little better but occasionally I can't get it out of this condition until I've gained momentum/speed.  My gas mileage stinks (16.5 hiway) and many have said to replace the O2 sensor, which I intend to do, but I'm hoping the two problems might be related and solved with the O2.  Any comments from the list?
>
>
>4) Gas quality seems to have a big effect on the tractibility of the
>vanagon.

Just had a long conversation with my brother last night who is a hot-shot GM mechanic.  He told me to buy only gas from AMOCO this summer as apparently there are only two gas pipe lines that service the midwest.  Apparently on the non-Amoco line they didn't properly clean the pipeline between diesel and gas shipments and its fouling GM vehicles all over the midwest.  He told me he had worked on lots of nearly brand new vehicles with clogged FI and that this problem is being experienced all over the upper midwest.  FYI
>
>5) I have whistles from air leaks at the top of the door frames. Any good
>remedy besides playing with the heating and ventilation controls. I believe
>the whistles come form an excess of air pressure forcing its way OUT.

I have this same problem on my 89 but in my case its the weatherstripping around the windows.  I need to replace that (next summer!) but just live with it now.


Jim Fritz
91 Passat Wagon GL
89 Westy
66 Beetle
[text/html]