Go back through the archive, or last week's mail. I've written numerous
missives lately on the importance/function of the 02 sensor.

As for the steam and water coming out of your exhaust, that is a normal
thing, particularly when the catalyst is functioning correctly. Connect
your O2 sensor and drive it.

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 Matthew Libby
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2002 9:30 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Urgent: NEED HELP, Weird Van Thing

OK, so this AM i started the van, idled fine for the whole 15 minutes.
After a few minutes got white smoke and water out the exhaust for 3-5
minutes, then it stopped.  Checked 02 sensor wires, look OK, I think
when I
put the cat back on I kinda smooshed some of the wires coming out of the
sensor, but looks OK.  Tried disconnecting and reconnecting 02 sensor
several times (the green single wire with a spade connector) and found
the
van ran no differently.  Idle seeking is also gone?  SO any more ideas
on
what it was.  And what are the consequences of NOT having the 02 sensor
connected?  And finally any tricks on taking the sensor off?

Matt

89 GL Westy "Smitty"
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joel Walker" <jwalker17@earthlink.net>
To: "Matthew Libby" <MLibby1@cfl.rr.com>
Sent: Monday, August 19, 2002 11:29 PM
Subject: Re: Urgent: NEED HELP, Weird Van Thing

> sounds kinda like the oxygen sensor wires are melted (insulation
> burned through) and water from the rain is getting splashed up on that
> place on the wire ... that shorts out the signal to the computer and
> it gets really really confused and starts screwing up the idle.  check
> those wires.
>
> good luck!
> joel
>
>