Did you notice if there was black smoke out the tail pipe?
What you mentioned is what I'd also check out, but another thing to check is the fuel pressure regulator. With the engine running, pull the vacuum hose off the regulator, if gas comes out the regulator, it's bad.

Andrew
1984 Westy "Speed Bump"
1996 VW Jetta Trek  "Little Beep" (the wife's car)

--- Eric Unrau <eunrau@YAHOO.CA> wrote:
>Hi folks.  I drove my Westy today for the first time in a couple of
>weeks.  Oil level was ok, coolant level was ok - started up fine.  As we
>drove to the airport, about 10km, the engine seemed to lose some power,
>but I wasn't too concerned - just thought it might be time to swap in a
>new set of ignition wires.  On the way home from the airport the power
>loss worsened until we were barely able to hold 40kph.  Noticed that the
>muffler was really hot, in fact so hot that the body coloured shield
>below the rear bumper has discoloured from the heat.
>
>In my search through the archives I've found a few possible explanations
>for these conditions:
>
>1) plugged cat
>2) slipped timing
>3) failed O2 sensor
>
>Any other possibilities or thoughts on steps toward determining the
>actual problem??
>
>Thanks,
>
>~Eric~
>'89 Westy
>Vancouver, BC

_____________________________________________________________
Free email, forums and features for events, clubs and cars. Show Pride in Your Ride with a yourname@vwmail.net address from http://www.vwmail.net