Date:         Wed, 22 Sep 1999 09:11:27 -0400
Reply-To:     Michael Townsend <townsend@RTP.ERICSSON.SE>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Townsend <townsend@RTP.ERICSSON.SE>
Subject:      bad gas mileage
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi,

My 90 Carat 4spd with a new VW Waterboxer only gets about 14 in town and 16
on the highway.  This is all with the AC on.  I realize the AC is a big
load, but I am dissapointed in this mileage.  The emissions checked out fine
after the rebuilt engine was installed, but I do not know about the age of
the O2 sensor.  Someone mentioned the Temp II sensor.  I presume the Temp I
sensor is for the guage (which works fine) and the other one (Temp II) is
for the computer.  Now, my radiator fan works perfectly, going to the
various speeds when it should.  Is it therefore safe to assume that my Temp
II sensor is fine?

The only other theory I have is the AC itself.  After my new engine (with
new belts) was installed for a while, I guess the belts "broke in" a little
bit and needed to be tightened.  When the AC was turned on, one of the belts
squealed -- not the compressor belt, but the alternator belt.  I tightened
the belts, but I wonder if the alternator is having to work too hard with
the AC on.  Maybe my AC is one of those drawing 50 amps through bad
connections.  Can someone tell me where those high resistance connections
are that need to be cleaned?  I certainly don't want an electrical fire,
either.  Oh yeah, after I clean all of the connections with CRC, what was
the name of the stuff I am supposed to spray on them to prevent future
corrosion?

Thanks,
Michael Townsend
townsend@rtp.ericsson.se