Hi Robert:

That was the first thing I checked, I think the afm is OK.

I'm pretty sure it's not the afm, because if it was, a restart would have eliminated the problem - it didn't, so that proved that.

I'm working on the assumption it's an ignition problem, but I very wel may be wrong.

Thanks for suggesting the AFM though, I appreciate it.

Marshall Ruskin
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: warmerwagen@hotmail.com
  To: Marshall ; Vanagon .com
  Sent: Monday, March 18, 2002 12:00 AM
  Subject: Re: "Maybe" some progress towards remedying my no-start/bucking/stal

  Hi Marshall-
  has anyone suggested looking at the  the AFM yet? The symptoms you described are the same- and I thought the same thing- that the fuel pump was the cause. A condition well documented in the archives as the AFM syndrome.

  A capicitor harness by VW or a special tantalum capicitor will prevent this cutting out problem.

  Robert
  1982 Westfalia

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Marshall
    Sent: Sunday, March 17, 2002 4:24 PM
    To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
    Subject: "Maybe" some progress towards remedying my no-start/bucking/stalling condition

    Hi Volks:

    Thanks to Terry K, Andrew Bell, Joe Romas, William "Developtrust", Richard
    Jones and the irreverent Joel Walker for their help. A great big thanks to
    local listee Jeff Palmer, who interrupted his "thesis-writing" to drive me
    to the store!

    If I missed somebody, I am sorry, and I hope you'll forgive me....

    Here's the story/saga:

    I bought a new rotor and cap today ("Wells" brand - all they had) at
    Canadian Tire, and installed them.

    There was some moisture on the old rotor's body. Yup.

    Van fired right up with new rotor and cap, and I drove for about 5 minutes
    before the bucking started again - bucking and stalling like before. It's
    puddly and slushy out, fwiw.

    * I noticed when I had attached the plug wires to the distributor, how
    little grip the distributor cap had on the plug wires - they'll lift off
    with hardly any force at all. A sparrow could easily pluck them out., (Watch
    out for that belt and pulley, Mr Sparrow!... ..oh geeze!)

    So, I wonder if this is normal for plug wires - or if I should buy a new
    set - I don't know how old mine are, but they're at least 3 years old.

    * I also noticed that there was a convex dished plate that sat below the
    rotor, and above the distributor body - this plate seemed to not have
    anything to grip it - it looks like it should snap down - but it just sits
    there. Hmm.

    Because my parking stall is full of slush, it wasn't safe to jack up the van
    to put in my new fuel filter - but I guess a plugged filter could also be a
    cause of the problem.

    All suggestions (helpful, that is) are welcomed.

    Marshall Ruskin
    84 Westy "The Weekend PITA"

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