Date:         Thu, 12 Aug 1999 11:11:46 -0400
Reply-To:     webbd@HOFFMAN.ARMY.MIL
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Webb <webbd@HOFFMAN.ARMY.MIL>
Subject:      93 Eurovan Dies During Constant Highway Driving
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I've suddenly been having a problem with my 93 Eurovan, and my VW dealer so
far hasn't been able to help me.  So I was hoping someone on this list may
recognize ths problem, since the symptoms are very distinctive.

My 93 Eurovan (45k miles) has always been very reliable.  But on a recent
long trip it began dying on the highway without warning.  The circumstances
are always the same: after an hour or more of constant-speed highway driving
it will suddenly and without warning lose all power, so I have to coast to a
stop on the highway shoulder.  The engine does not stall out.  If I turn it
off for a few minutes and start it back up, I have always been able to drive
away okay without further problem.

This is apparently a known problem with some non-Eurovan VWs (including
Vanagons), as I have found a description of it online, as well as a standard
fix.  Here is the fix that is prescribed:

        " Some VW cars have a mass air flow sensor that
     vibrates the potentiometer arm during extended driving
     at constant speeds. The resonance causes the mass air
     flow sensor to send an intermittent signal to the ECU. The
     ECU will default to a no load signal and reduce injector
     open time. To remedy this problem install a
     damper/converter (p/n 025-906-302A) between the wiring
     harness and the mass air flow sensor connector."

                (from Automotive Machine & Supply, Inc website)

My VW dealer says he is familiar with this problem and the fix, but has not
yet seen it in a Eurovan (except mine).  So he is trying to get VW to
investigate and come up with a fix.  But it's been a while and VW so far has
nothing to offer in the way of a solution.

Has anyone on this list had this problem with sudden power loss at constant
highway driving?  Does VW have a Eurovan fix for this comparable to the fix
for their other cars?

Thanks very much for any help with this.

--Dennis Webb
        '93 Eurovan
        '77 Microbus
        '70 Green Beetle
        '67 Red Beetle