Tonya.... very good post... good logic... I agree...  always try to diagnose
(I would add a Digitool helps here)... if you still can't figure it out
always replace the cheap, easy parts first.

Bill

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tonya Pope" <Tonya@HOLOREALITY.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, September 11, 2000 8:52 PM
Subject: Re: Cutting out problem

> On 11 Sep 00, at 8:16, Lawrence Johnson wrote:
> > This "Vanagon Syndrome" is well understood by both VW and real people.
VW has a
> > $100 wiring harness to "fix" the problem. Real people have a $0.55
capacitor
> > "fix". The real problem is the screwy programming in the Digifant gets
confused
> > and shuts down. VW never admitted this error.
>
> Unfortunately, the wiring harness is not the only culprit, nor does it
> always "fix" the problem.  When my van was experiencing the
> problem I was directed to spend the $100+ (I think it was 120 at
> the time) only to install it and continue to have the exact same
> problem I was already having.
>
> On 11 Sep 00, at 9:10, Mick Kalber wrote:
> > So the capacitor is the solution, eh?  How come so many listees
> seem to be
> > throwing other parts at it still?  They just haven't caught on yet?
>
> Parts are still being thrown because there are MANY parts that can
> cause the problems.  I took the part throwing route myself, but not
> by choice.  I had all the mechanical "experts" in town telling me,
> very emphatically each time, that THIS part was the real trouble
> and if I just replaced it, all my worries would disappear.  I hadn't
> owned mine enough at the time to know better yet, so I spent ton$.
>  I stopped when the dealer insisted it was the $800 ecu.
>
> In some cases, part throwing does make sense.  For any part that
> is cheaper and less time consuming to just buy and replace rather
> than test (the tempII sensor comes to mind), swap it out.  But don't
> spent the $100 thinking it's a magical cure all, cause it's not.  It's a
> quick way to become very disenchantized.
>
> As for the cutting out problem, if it doesn't start right back up fine,
> the harness won't fix it.  If it seems temperature related (i.e. when it
> warms up it does it and has to cool off to return to "normal"), look
> at parts that temperature would relate to (tempII sensor, O2
> sensor, etc).  See if there are any other common external factors.
> Always happens on the same bumpy road or when it's raining?
> Check grounds and wires (always a good idea in general).  I kept
> insisting that mine was related to heat, that when it warmed up to a
> certain point it acted up and only behaved again after it cooled
> down.  I had 5 different "mechanics" all tell me that that observation
> was just coincidental, that their part of the week was the true
> culprit and it had nothing to do with temperature.  For my
> "mechanics" I use the term loosely as I believe most of them were
> glorified part swappers -- I have since found one that believes in
> diagnosis and pay him appropriately for that service, unfortunately
> he's way more into aircooled and willingly admits his lack of
> expertise (his admitting it is more than enough reason for me to
> continue using him -- he doesn't try to con me).  Anyways, for me
> the problem was the temp sensor.  Silly $10 part that totally
> debilitated my van.
>
> Bottom line, there is no magical cure-all and don't go into it
> thinking there is.  Or you'll become very unhappy, very quickly.
> Look at everything you can think of that is consistent about when
> the problem happens and see if there is some type of pattern.
> Don't assume that anything is "coincidental", cause chances are
> it's not.  When the problem started happening, had there been
> some recent change to the van (new part, new gas station, new
> landscape, tune-up, etc).
>
> So go put that detective hat on and good luck!
> Tonya
> 87 Vanagon GL Wolfs
>