Check the compression. Even in the winter, it wouldn't be impossible to
have overheated the motor, burned a couple valves, and have little to no
compression.

From DC,
G. Matthew Bulley

A real threat to US Citizens?
Blood for oil?
Or an elaborate sideshow to distract attention from more pressing
national problems the Administration can't seem to solve?

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of Larry Alofs
Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2003 7:29 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: 81 won't start in Colorado

Dylan Spurgin wrote:
>
> Hey folks.  This is my cry for help.
>
> I drove my 81 fuel injected van in from Texas to Colorado Friday and
when we got in Saturday morning after about 6 hours rest she wouldn't
start.  The engine turns over fine but will not fire unless we push it
and pop the clutch.  Even then she only coughs briefly and then dies.
The very first time I cranked her Saturday morning she did fire once but
didn't start.
>
> There is fuel coming from the little test valve.  We can smell gas and
the spark plugs are wet after we've been trying to start her.  We have
replaced and gapped the plugs.  We have put a new(er) distributor cap
on.
>
> Can we try to prime the van by adding a little gas in the air intake?
What should I try next?
>
> tia
>
> dylan

I wouldn't add more gas if you can smell it and the plugs are already
getting wet.  You didn't say that you have checked for spark.
  Pull a wire off a spark plug, stick a screwdriver into the end of the
wire and hold the metal shaft of the screwdriver about 1/4 inch from
some metal on the engine. Hold the screwdriver by the end of the plastic
so you don't get shocked. Watch for spark while you crank.   If you
don't get anything, do a similar test with the wire that goes from the
coil to the distributor.
   If spark is going into the distributor but not coming out, the rotor
may be bad.  If the coil is not producing spark, check your points, and
make sure there is power to the coil when the ignition is on.
Good luck,
Larry A.