Sounds like a ground or temp sensor problem. Next time it's reluctant to
start, stop cranking before it starts and go have a sniff at the tailpipe.
You may find that it smells a lot like raw gasoline, that it's actually
flooding. It might be a good idea to clean all the engine compartment
grounds (at both cable terminal ends as well as the surface they attach to.
If that doesn't make any difference, I'd replace the T2 sensor (blue harness
plug at left front of engine attached to a blue sensor which pushes into a
black plastic housing from the left side. This housing is attached to the
forward and of the left hand cylinder head). Undo the harness plug by
pushing in the wire clip and pulling off, then remove a metal clip which
fits through a slot in the housing and pull the sensor out to the side. Have
a new one on hand complete with o-ring ready to pop back in. Coolant will
run out when you remove the sensor, so do the work with a cold engine, have
a pan underneath to catch the coolant you miss.

(It is an infallible law of mechanics, right up there with "cars need parts"
and "get all bolts started BEFORE tightening" that "if there is no drain pan
under the plug it cannot be reinstalled without falling out of the
technician's hand at least once, thereby allowing most of the liquid in the
system in question to pour out onto the tech's hand, rendering it so
slippery that the plug can no longer be held, thereby allowing the remaining
fluid to pour out onto the ground". I'd appreciate a simpler, more elegant
and compact way of phrasing this -  if anyone can come up with one, we'll
name the law after them and publish it on our new web site (not yet in
service - coming very soon - I promise)!

T2 sensor part #: 025 906 041A
T2 sensor O-ring part #: N 903 168 02
ZVW 237 104 VW Coolant Number (in case you're a victim of the 3rd Law of
Mechanics described above - you should have some around in any case...)

Coby Smolens
Valley Wagonworks
VW Bus and Vanagon Specialists
"Intimately acquainted with VW Vans since 1959"

1535 SF Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, CA 94960
415-457-5628

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of Gavin Murgatroyd
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2001 8:59 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: '91 Vanagon Multivan - hard to start

hello all, I just purchased my '91 Vanagon Multivan and obviously just love
it.  There are however a couple of things that need attending to.  First, is
this hard to start thing.  If I have not driven/started the van for 3-5 days
then it very hard to start.  I turn the key over and I can hear what I think
is the fuel pump and then I turn it further to get the starter going.  The
starter fires up but the engine won't start.  It is almost as though it is
not getting fuel.  I did have luck one time where I pumped the gas pedal 3
times before starting and it worked fine.  The other interesting part is
that if the van is warm, ie. on a trip, it starts like magic... it seems to
be an issue after it has been sitting for a few days.  Anyone had this
issue?

murgy.

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