I would guess that some of the fuel tank crud has blocked the return from the
injection system, so the overflow is getting into the intake; glowing exhaust
was the result of all the extra fuel getting "catalyzed", now there is just so
much getting dumped in that engine won't start.
Just a guess, though!
Chris

Brent Christensen wrote:

> But what about the glowing exhaust pipe?  Unrelated?  Coincidence?
>
> Brent Christensen
> '89 GL Syncro Westy
> Santa Barbara, CA
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Marshall" <vanagon@volkswagen.org>
> To: "Brent Christensen" <brent@VANAGON.COM>; <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2001 9:07 PM
> Subject: RE: Help for a guy in Belgium
>
> > Change the fuel filter - more than likely he sucked up some sludge on the
> > bottom of the tank and the pump can't get enough fuel to build the correct
> > pressure.  BTDT
> >
> >
> > David Marshall
> >
> > Fast Forward Autobahn Sport Tuning
> > 4356 Quesnel Hixon Road
> > Quesnel BC Canada  V2J 6Z3
> > mailto:info@fastforward.ca http://www.fastforward.ca
> > Phone: (250) 992 7775 FAX: (250) 992 1160
> >
> > . Vanagon Accessories and Engine Conversions
> > . Transporter, Unimog and Iltis Sales
> > . European Lighting for most Audi and Volkswagen models
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> > Of Brent Christensen
> > Sent: January 17, 2001 8:59 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Help for a guy in Belgium
> >
> >
> > This one has me stumped - can anyone help this person out?  I was thinking
> > blocked cat until the last part...
> >
> > Please rely to him at Rettigj@650mi.shape.army.mil but copy me, as I am
> > interested in what people have to say.
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Brent Christensen
> > '89 GL Syncro Westy
> > Santa Barbara, CA
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Rettig, Jeff WO1" <Rettigj@650mi.shape.army.mil>
> >
> > > Help -
> > >
> > > I live in Belgium with a second-hand, American spec, 1984 vanagon 1.9 L
> > that
> > > wants me to send it to the crusher.  I'd prefer to repair its problem,
> > > unfortunately, even the Belgian mechanics are scratching their chins
> > trying
> > > to identify why it won't run.  Here's the history:  On an almost empty
> > tank,
> > > the engine began to sputter, then made a nice big white cloud of smoke.
> I
> > > pulled over, stopped the engine, and looked to see if I cracked a block
> or
> > > lost a head gasket.  Not being that smart, all I could do was look for
> > > coolant leakage on the ground or under the heads (none), check for
> coolant
> > > in the oil (none), and inspect the level in the radiator reservoir
> (good).
> > > I decided   sludge from the bottom of the gas tank must have gone
> through
> > > the engine causing both the sputter and the Indian smoke signal.  I
> > > restarted the engine, and continued on my way in search of gasoline.
> The
> > > engine sputtered about two miles to the gas station, but never came
> close
> > to
> > > providing normal power.  After refilling the tank, I drove three miles
> > home
> > > with the sputtering engine, which at least acted like it wanted to quit
> > > sputtering (it gave more power the further I went).  At home, I turned
> off
> > > the engine and went to the back to see if I could figure out the
> problem.
> > > Immediately I noticed two things - I'm no mechanic, and the joint
> between
> > > the catalytic converter and the muffler was glowing bright red.  I
> thought
> > > maybe a blockage of the converter could have caused all of my problems,
> so
> > I
> > > let the van cool down in order to start it again to move it into the
> > garage
> > > where I could replace the catalytic converter with an open bypass pipe.
> > > Unfortunately, when I tried to restart the engine after about an hour,
> it
> > > wouldn't even cough.  I dropped the catalytic, and tried again, but no
> > luck
> > > -- all I noticed was a LOT of gasoline dripping out a hole in another
> > > section of the exhaust (which I also later replaced, since I was bored
> and
> > > could not drive anywhere).  I then pulled out the spark plugs, dried
> them
> > > off, and let the cylinders dry out.  A neighbor checked the plugs when I
> > > turned over the engine, and saw all four spark.  Placing them back in
> the
> > > engine made no difference - I could not start it.  So I had it towed to
> > the
> > > garage, hoping the Belgian automotive geniuses could figure it out.
> That
> > > was over one week ago, and they still have no #%*!@ idea what went
> wrong,
> > or
> > > what to do.
> > >
> > > So, after all of that, does any of this sound familiar, or do you
> > otherwise
> > > have a theory about what is wrong with my Vanagon and how I can fix it?
> I
> > > have fuel and spark going to the cylinders, but it won't start.  Could
> it
> > be
> > > a problem with air (is the air-flow meter bad)?  Is there a problem with
> > the
> > > ECM?  Thanks for at least reading this far, and thanks even more for
> > > whatever advice you can give me.
> > >
> > > Jeff in the land where they hate American model anything.
> > >
> >