My 84 vanagon and I are usually very good friends, but recently it has
turned into PsychoCar.

Weather:
    10-20 degrees, snow, slush, crud, low humidity

Downhill:
    drives just fine

Uphill:
    Loses power.  It feels like a bungie cord is
    attached to my rear bumber. I put in the clutch,
    RPMs come right up, let out the clutch and move
    forward a moment, then B-o-i-nngg Mr Bungie slows me
    to a stop.

    And I'm not talking about big hills. The slightest
    upward incline makes it do this.

    The rear wheel wells are packed with snow and ice,
    and I'm hoping  that it's something simple like
    clearing that out, but I suspect something more
    sinister.

Theory:

Since I got the car 80k ago (that's miles, not repair dollars), there has
been a constant whine whether the van is idling or cruising. I think that is
my fuel pump cavitating.  When my car loses power, that whine changes in
sound, sort of like it's sucking like mad but not  getting any. Gas, I mean.
  So I think there is a fuel something going on.  It has a new filter and 2
bottles of antifreeze in the tank.  So the best I can do is..... fuel pump?
But why does uphill make the difference?

Steve
84 Vanagon PsychoCar
Lansing Mich

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