Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
VanagonEuroVan
Subject:Re: start - won't sart - solution
From:Mike Collum
Date:Sat, 23 Aug 2003 13:20:11 -0400

<snip>
some reason it just cranks and does'nt fire up
<snip>

Joe,

I have had 2 instances where the 1.9 ECU was bad and the engine would
turn over but not start.

The first one was with my '84 during a trip from Maine to Virginia.
After traveling for some distance at relatively high speed, I pulled
into a rest stop and the engine died before reaching a parking space.  I
coasted into one.  When I tried to restart .... RrrrrRrrrrRrrrrr .... it
cranked but seemed to have no spark.  I was getting plenty of fuel.
Luckily, I had a spare ECU under the seat.  After putting in my spare it
fired right up and we continued our trip without incident.  After
returning home I swapped 'em again and, just like at the rest stop, no
start.

The second instance was after I decided to replace my bad one so I would
again have a spare, I obtained one via eBay.  The day it arrived I put
it in my '84 to test it.  No start.  I then put it in my '85 .... no
start.  Swapping the "Good" ECUs between the vans was no problem, so I
got in touch with the party that sold me the bad one and he agreed to
replace it.  When the replacement arrived, I tried it and it worked fine
in both vans.  I then vacuum sealed it with my "Foodsaver" and take it
as a spare in whichever van I make a trip in.

Mike
'84 GL 7 pass auto
'85 GL Westy 4 speed

Have something to add on this topic today? Revive this thread in the forum »