Date:         Sat, 2 Oct 1999 11:00:15 -0600
Reply-To:     Alfred Bagdan <abagdan@POWERSURFR.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alfred Bagdan <abagdan@POWERSURFR.COM>
Organization: self
Subject:      Re: I have a gas puzzler..
Comments: To: Robert Keezer 19618-5th Ave so Seattle WA 98148 <BRY4PRTZ@AOL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <f548f10c.25271433@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hello Robert,

Friday, October 01, 1999, 9:54:27 PM, you wrote:

RK15AsSW9> Hey Vana-go-go-ers,
RK15AsSW9>  Has this happened to you before ? You are cruising along in your
RK15AsSW9> digifant-managed 2 liter Golf powered Vanagon when suddenly the engine stops.
RK15AsSW9> You turn the key off then back on to start. It won't compression start unless
RK15AsSW9> the ignition is turned off first and the back on.  Why is the question? This
RK15AsSW9> had me thinking that it was a bad AFM, but I have swapped several without any
RK15AsSW9> change. The AFM ran the 1.8 just fine. There is none of the bucking symptoms
RK15AsSW9> as associated with a bad AFM.Why does the ignition have to be switched off
RK15AsSW9> first? If you have had this problem I need to hear from you.The engine quits
RK15AsSW9> at least twice a day . Thanks.

RK15AsSW9> Robert Keezer
RK15AsSW9> 1982 Westfalia w/ 95 Golf lll engine ( diesel conversion)
RK15AsSW9> Seattle


Yes it happened to me too.

What fixed it was to replace the ignition switch (2 parts, cylinder
and switch). In time the cylinder to switch connection gets loose and
sometimes as your driving disconnects. You must then turn the switch
off and then on to get going. I had this problem bugging me for years,
not knowing the cause. Luckily I have a standard transmission so
whenever the van died I simply turned the ignition off then on and
would continue as if nothing had happened(at least the driver behind
me would not notice anything). A mechanic suggested I replace the
ignition switch, which I didn't believe at first, but eventually did.
Bingo! Van has not died since. It is a good idea to not carry all
kinds of other keys or doodads on your keying as the weight will cause
wear on the switch components.

Best regards,

 Alfred
 85 Westie