Date:         Tue, 21 Dec 1999 18:02:57 -0500
Reply-To:     Lawrence Johnson <larry_avery.johnson@SYMPATICO.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Lawrence Johnson <larry_avery.johnson@SYMPATICO.CA>
Subject:      Re: 87 Syncro Engine dying & Seattle Mech reference
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

-Kurt,
There is a very good chance that you have a plugged catalytic converter.
It is easy to test: Just undo the three bolts joining the cat and connector
pipe. Also disconnect the black single spade connecting the Oxygen Sensor
(located just below the coil). Now try running the engine. If it runs well,
remove the cat completely; knock out its innards; remove the muffler and shake
out the debris from the cat. Reassemble and reconnect the Oxygen Sensor wire.
All will be fine (extra ~10 hp above spec.) until you have your next emission
test. Before then, replace the Catalytic Converter with a fresh new one.
BTDT
-Larry '86 Syncro Westfalia

"Krusinski, Kurt" wrote:

> 1) Looking for guesses on this problem:
> I recently acquired an '87 Syncro w/ about 120K.  Last week, after running
> fine for a little over an hour, then engine could not maintain its revs and
> died out.   (It  died coming off the highway at Snoqualmie pass @ 4000').
> The engine could restart immediately after dying, but would die after about
> a minute, regardless of whether I tried to hold the revs above idle or let
> it rest at idle.  I was able to restart it after about 30 minutes and could
> only keep it running by constantly revving between 2K and 3500.  It died
> again on the highway on the return leg, but was able to restart and keep
> going; it ran fine for the last 30 min to my house.<snip>