Hi John,

I know this temp sensor can cause major havoc with the engine.  A few
years ago a mechanic that worked on this van did not have the
connector in all the way and the van ran terrible.  When I got home I
just touched the wires and the connector just dropped off the sensor,
when I put it back it ran just fine.  This will be the first thing I
attack next.

Thanks and Good Luck with your van

Tim

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