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Subject:Re: Urgent: NEED HELP, Weird Van Thing
From:G. Matthew Bulley
Date:Wed, 21 Aug 2002 19:17:23 -0400

Or better still, do all us air breathing organisms a favor, and put a
new cat on the van. $100 is cheap insurance in an unpredictable and
ever-changing atmosphere where your kids will want to breathe.

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 Gary McEachern
Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2002 7:16 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Urgent: NEED HELP, Weird Van Thing

Matt
If the element in your cat is damaged and in pieces I would replace the
cat or temporarily remove the pieces inside the damaged cat. I had a
similar problem a few years ago which caused my van to die. The element
broke up formed sort of a ball and continuously shifted in the housing
causing  blockage and loss of power. I broke up and removed the element
and reinstalled the cat.

I'm not saying this is your problem however I would eliminate this as a
potential cause before looking too much further.

Gary

PS: I see you upgraded to a Westy!

Mathew Libby <MLibby1@CFL.RR.COM> wrote:

>Ok, also when it starts to die, if I pump the pedal it will idle back
up.
>Are we thinking fuel pump or just some water in the tank?
>
>Matt
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Matthew Libby" <MLibby1@CFL.RR.COM>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Monday, August 19, 2002 7:32 PM
>Subject: Re: Urgent: NEED HELP, Weird Van Thing
>
>
>> Could it be the MMO I put in the tank?
>>
>> Matt
>>
>> PS- I put 8 ounces in 9 gallons?
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: <minor35@juno.com>
>> To: <MLibby1@CFL.RR.COM>
>> Cc: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> Sent: Monday, August 19, 2002 7:22 PM
>> Subject: Re: Urgent: NEED HELP, Weird Van Thing
>>
>>
>> > You got a lot of symptoms. I'd look for moisture in the fuel or
stopped
>> > up fuel filter.
>> >
>> > Bill M.
>> >
>> > On Mon, 19 Aug 2002 18:04:57 -0400 Matthew Libby
<MLibby1@CFL.RR.COM>
>> > writes:
>> > > OK, so my vans been fine, that I just bought.  Drove for like 900
>> > > miles no problems.  Charged AC, blows cool, loving life.
Mentioned
>> > > valve noise and was directed by list to try MMO.  So this weekend
I
>> > > changed the oil and filter, used 1 quart of MMO and the rest
Mobil1
>> > > synthetic 15-50.  Also noticed an exhaust rattle, removed cat,
>> > > ceramic insert is in 10 pieces, couldnt find replacement on
sunday,
>> > > so put back together.  Went for a ride, valve noise still there,
but
>> > > no worse.  Today drove home, in POURING RAIN.  Van started to act
>> > > funny.  The rpm used to kick up when the ac was on from like 700
to
>> > > 900-1000.  Today all of a sudden RPMS would kick up to 2000!  AC
>> > > cooling was down.  Shut off AC rpm back to normal. Hmm, weird I
>> > > thought.  Continued driving, eventually shut off AC.  Everything
>> > > normal.  Then while sitting in traffic my oil pressure light
started
>> > > to flicker, not blink, just flicker ever so slightly every few
>> > > minutes. hmm.  a little more gas and rpms up and light out.  So I
>> > > countinued driving home.  Then total loss of power, pedal to
floor,
>> > > rpms fall, no power.  I shut off pull over.  Engine compart,ment
>> > > normal, wires and cap dry, not that hot, turns freely, coolant
was
>> > > normal before, on LED, coolant level normal, oil normal....  Sat
for
>> > > a few minutes.  Cranked and it strated and behaved normally for 2
>> > > minutes, then died.  Sat, and then started again, normal.!?!?!
So I
>> > > drove the remainder home like this.  Drive fine for 2 minutes,
start
>> > > to lose power, shut off and coast for a minute, restart,
everything
>> > > fine, then repeat... So Smitty sits in the garage, and I have NO
>> > > CLUE whats going on.  ANY IDEAS!!! WHERE SHOULD I START.  Is this
>> > > just electrical weirdness die to rain, or something else.  Please
>> > > HELP!!!
>> > >
>> > > Matt
>> > >
>> > > 89 GL Westy 2.1 "Smitty"
>> > >
>> >
>> > ________________________________________________________________
>> > GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
>> > Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
>> > Join Juno today!  For your FREE software, visit:
>> > http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.
>

--
Gary McEachern
Reading, Ma
'90 Westy Subavanagon
'86 Wolfy Subavanagon
'87 Syncro (Son's van)

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