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<P><BR>I have the same symptons...and it looks like the temp sensor may be my problem (I hope), Like Laurence said. &nbsp;I'll let everyone know on monday... The sensor is something&nbsp; I would definately check.that and fuel pressure....good luck., John<BR></P></DIV>
<DIV></DIV><BR><BR><BR>John Cianci
<DIV></DIV>Research Assistant
<DIV></DIV>Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
<DIV></DIV>Clarkson University
<DIV></DIV>315-268-3776
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;From: Laurence Smith <LAURENCE@ALANASMITH.COM>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Reply-To: Laurence Smith <LAURENCE@ALANASMITH.COM>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Subject: Re: Loss of Power False Air Oil Breather?
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Date: Sat, 17 Aug 2002 00:12:12 -0400
<DIV></DIV>&gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt;This may be a stretch ... but could the removal of your temp II sender
<DIV></DIV>&gt;on the thermostat housing somehow caused it some damage. If so, then
<DIV></DIV>&gt;the resistence readings for the coolant temp as it warms up could be
<DIV></DIV>&gt;wrong. The computer might think the engine is colder that it really
<DIV></DIV>&gt;is and set the timing incorrectly - which would cause a power loss
<DIV></DIV>&gt;problem.
<DIV></DIV>&gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Laurence Smith
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Hamilton, ON
<DIV></DIV>&gt;90 Westy (fanumbos)
<DIV></DIV>&gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; -----Original Message-----
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; From: Vanagon Mailing List
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Of Tim Marciniak
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2002 12:00 AM
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Subject: Re: Loss of Power False Air Oil Breather?
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Here is more on symptoms:
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Van starts fine. When I press on the accelerator there is a
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; hesitation before rpms increase on the tach, maybe a 1/2 second or
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; so. This happens if engine is cold or warm. Normally when
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; I press on
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; the accelerator the van is very responsive immediately.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; It idles at
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; 800rpm but it does not sound right, it sounds like it is missing to
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; me but when I pulled the old spark plugs they looked ok to me, light
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; tan to gray, they were not carboned up or oil fouled, I concluded no
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; ignition miss, has to be something else. It does not stall. Sound
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; out of the tail pipe is not right. I guess the most
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; obvious thing is
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; the hesitation on acceleration and somewhat lumpy thumpy idle sound
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; from the tail pipe whe I stand near it and listen attentively.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Usually the exhaust sound is very pleasant to my ear when
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; its running
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; right.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Another thing to mention, about two weeks ago we went camping with
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; the van. Two days before we were to leave the metal water pipe on
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; the drivers side of engine that goes from thermostat
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; housing to water
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; pump springs a leak. The day we are set to leave I replace
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; this pipe
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; and off we go on a 3.5 hr drive up to Northern Wisconsin. The only
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; electrical connection I disconnected was the temp sensor from the
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; thermostat housing when replacing this pipe. Van runs fine all the
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; way, I did note that it was running slightly cooler than usual, just
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; below the red LED. So 10:30 PM we pull into the park we are camping
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; in to check in at the park office. Van is off maybe 10 minutes. We
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; come back out it starts up I go about 10 feet and cant get
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; the rpm to
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; go much over 2000 and it stalls. I'm really confused now becasue it
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; just ran wonderfully for the last 200miles. So I sit and
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; let it idle
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; erratically for a few minutes and then the idle finally smoothes out
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; and I book for our campsite--what a way to start a 5 day camp trip.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; The following morning I start the van just to see how it sounds and
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; its running but not its usual perfect self. So I open up the engine
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; compartment and start to check things out. I immediately find the
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; braided ground strap that goes from the block to the gound
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; point near
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; the coil is almost split, so I secure with some duct tape and hope
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; that will hold till I get home--it did. I also disconnected the O2
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; sensor to see if that helped and it seemed to. I drove the van for
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; the next five days and it got us back home 65mph all the way. A
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; little nerve racking but the van ran pretty good considering the
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; initial problem I had our first night up north.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; When we get home from camping the first thing I do is replace the
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; ground strap. At this point I think the van was running fine but I
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; cant be positive now. About 3 or 4 days ago I noticed this
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; hesitation and thats when I did the tuneup and started
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; poking around.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Last fall I put a new exhaust system on the van including new O2
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; sensor and catalytic convertor. It has run fine all winter, spring
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; and summer and only since the camping trip has it started to act up.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Because the vanagon is so under powered I sometimes mistake a real
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; problem for its assumed lack of power or vice versa. Its when I
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; really stop and listen that I pick up on problems like this
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; one. The
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; van has 100k miles on it and all maintenance has been done
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; by me with
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; the exception of the heads that were replaced at 70k by a very
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; competent vanagon mechanic.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; I have not measured fuel pressure yet thinking it was
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; ignition system
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; related. Nor did I check ignition timing or even play with that in
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; two years.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Thanks for your reply as I contemplate my next step.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; Tim Marciniak
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; 90 Multivan (Automatic)
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Tell us more about the symptoms and less about the things you did.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Loss of power when? Under load? On acceleration? All circumstances?
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Does it idle correctly?
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Is the fuel pressure correct?
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;When did this loss of power start, all at once following some DIY
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;futzing, or gradually over time? If it started all at
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; once, what did you
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;do just prior? If gradually, what has been different in the
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;circumstances lately? Hotter weather? New gas station? New
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; teen driver
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;with access to the Van? Carrying an 18-ton commemorative
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; anchor from
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;your trip to the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial?
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;From the tiny bit you described, I'd guess the timing is
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; off, you have a
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;clogged filter (could the air filter have gotten wet?) or
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; your Catalytic
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;converter is melted/fused and plugged.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Developing business and guiding change since 1996,
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;G. Matthew Bulley
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Bulley-Hewlett
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Marketing &amp; Communications
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Business: www.bulley-hewlett.com
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;AIM = IExplain4u
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Phone: +1.919.658.1278
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;-----Original Message-----
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;From: Vanagon Mailing List
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Of Tim Marciniak
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Sent: Friday, August 16, 2002 4:31 PM
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Subject: Loss of Power False Air Oil Breather?
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;New problem just cropped up for me with my 90 Vanagon. I seem to
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;have a significant loss of power both when engine is cold
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; and warmed
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;up. Recent maintenace included replacing the ground strap
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; from block
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;to ignition coil, cleaning up contacts on the ignition coil, new
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;rotor, distributor cap, new spark plugs and wires, new air filter,
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;recent oil change. Checked throttle position switch and
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; this is ok.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Idle stabilizer is working. I then checked for vacuum leaks and
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;replaced vacuum line from fuel pressure regulator to
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; intake manifold
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;because this line looked suspicious although I think it
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; was ok. Next
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;I pressurized the intake system with air found a leak coming out of
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;the oil breather pipe. This is the large black plastic pipe that
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;sits on top on the engine with a line that goes from it to the air
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;intake hose just after the AFM. This black breather pipe is not
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;supposed to be vented in anyway to the
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; atmosphere---Correct? Because
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;of this I suspect I have an air leak into the intake
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; system after the
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;AFM (false air) which may be leaning the air/fuel mix. Has anyone
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;had problems with this pipe? Mine seem to be leaking near the top
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;ridge just under what looks like a cap on this pipe but it is not
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;removable from what i can tell. Any suggestions appreciated.
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;TIA
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;Tim
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; &gt;--
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt; --
<DIV></DIV>&gt; &gt;
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