When we got SyncroBeast back together, I either checked the compression or
looked at the plugs to see what they looked like.  That meant pulling the
plug wires.

Yep, I got #1 and #2 plugs reversed, hence the poor running and backfiring.

With the two plugs reversed and no alternator to run the water pump, she
overheated a bit with a simple 1/4 mile run around the block!

We figured that running hot, with unburned gas from the #1 and #2 reversed
plugs burnt the CAT

Bill at Dune Buggy Supply assumed that since I had put the new exhaust pipe
on (collector to cat) that I had looked in the CAT.  But then, that was
before all the problems, so I might not have seen anything anyway! .

Two days into diagnosis, Bill checked for a plugged CAT because someone
mentioned in passing that the exhaust might be plugged.  I forget who.
Man, was it ever plugged!  Solid!  Burnt to a crisp.

Since I know others have their own _____Beasts down for while, here's a run
down on what all I found:

*  Lot's of corrosion.  All ground wires to the engine crumbled in my hand.

*  Corrosion on all critical connections like coil and distributor.

*  Both the fuel pump and the fuel filter leaked like sieves.  Corrosion again.

*  Something in the Alternator shorted hard. Not sure what, suspect
corrosion, but it's not there now.  This is what killed the battery DEAD!

*  Plugged solid CAT. Probably did to myself with reversed #1 & #2 plug wires.

SUGGETIONS:

*  Don't stop running her.  Well, not always practical, or reality.

*  Open up the engine lid.  Don't leave it down to trap moisture underneath.

*  Park it outside, not in a garage that can collect moisture.

*  If you do park inside, keep an eye on her.  Run a fan on a timer to keep
the air moving around.  This seemed to keep the moisture down.

*  If you do park it inside, leave the doors open and the rear hatch open.
Keeps the moisture from collecting inside.

Ch

Carl Hansen
856-303-9370
carl_hansen@ieee.org

Ch

'89 SyncroBeast Vanagon - Thank god for Brother-in-laws. SyncroBeast
together.  It's a long story, someday we'll recover and tell it.
'87 16V GTI
'80 850 Yamaha Special
'87 16V GTI w/ hale damage - parting out - body gone, parts remain
'89 16V GTI w/ toasted motor
'86 Scirocco (8 valve w/ auto) - SO's
toooo many parts to count, all hauled out to NJ!!
Man, no wonder we were 7,000 lbs over!!!

Prior Lake, MinneSnowta