Hey Listees -

Problem:  My 84 westy won't warm start easily.

I may have jumped the gun on my last email on the subject of my van's
warm start problem.  Joel also mentioned the following:
                                SCENARIO #1

        "if it's the sensor, you should notice that the bus idles badly and
        wants to stumble and die at red lights after it warms up (if you keep
        running after cranking when cold). similar symptoms if the valve is
        stuck open ... the sensor is telling the computer to give more gas
        (like the old chokes, on carburetors). the valve is allowing extra air
        for that extra gas."

Well, my van doesn't stumble at idle.  In fact it sometimes idles
normally, often idles high, and on occasion does its own sort of revving
of high to low and back as if a ghost were revving the engine.  So, does
this would seem to rule out the above.

                                SCENARIO #2

        "it could also be a leaking injector or bad fuel pressure regulator ...
        these could be allowing gas to leak into the cylinders after you shut
        off the engine, which would make it very hard to start again (but the
        bus would run ok, as long as you didn't shut it off)."

Well, this sounds like a likely scenario except that I have tested it by
starting and cutting the engine in several successions and it starts each
time while it's cold.  So it would seem this scenario is also ruled out?

Joel's conclusion:

        "so if it's idling badly or stumbling, check the sensor or the valve.
         if it's running ok, but just not starting when warm, check the
         injectors and the fuel pressure regulator."

Hmm, according to the conclusion it sounds more like injectors and/or the
fuel pressure regulator, right?

Does the following help to clarify the problem?

        John Baker's little short cut to the solution works most of the time: "
I have discovered a way
        to help with those warm starts until I can get around to replacing that
sensor.  When your
         engine is warm, turn the key  "on" (injectors injecting) but don't
engage the starter,
        and wait about 15 seconds in this position before turning the motor
over.  After this time,
        I turn and give one little push on the accelator pedal as I engage the
starter and it
        generally fires right up!"

Thanks and I hope this all makes sense!

Les

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