Hi Jonathan,

Thanks for your input.  I have not taken a very systematic approach thus far, but it looks like its about time to do that.  I neither own a multi-meter nor know how to use one, but I suppose I can get one and learn how.

I'll try to get my hands on a Golf-Jetta Bentley and see how the digifant system is analyzed there.

Thanks again.

Warren Lail
88 Westy "Billy Bones"
87 GL (cannibalized, not running)

----- Original Message -----
From: Jonathan Farrugia <jfarrugi@umich.edu>
Date: Saturday, March 6, 2004 6:42 pm
Subject: Re: [VANAGON] more trouble with Billy

> Warren
>
> i haven't been following your saga with billy very closely but i
> have this
> to say.  i don't know if you have done this yet but, i believe you
> need to
> take a systematic approach to this problem.  get out your bentley
> and your
> multi-meter and test every digifant component and compare it to
> the specs
> in the manual.  a good additional resource in my opinion is the
> bentleymanual for the 85-92 golf and jetta.  they used the
> digifant system and
> the treatment of the digifant system in the golf manual is MUCH better
> than the treatment in the vanagon manual.
>
> what i have done in the past is to make myself a "cut" sheet.
> this is a
> sheet(s) of paper with all the specs for the system.  this helps
> to reduce
> needing to flip through the manual while trouble shoot.
> additionally mark
> the page numbers in the bentley next to your written specs on the
> "cut"sheet for quick reference.
>
> once you have verified all the components, verify the whole wiring
> harnessfor continuity and resistance.  the final step is to check
> for resistance
> drops in the ground system.  do this by attaching one end of the
> meter to
> the negative post of the battery and then using the other probe on the
> meter to check all the grounding spots and various other places on the
> engine and transmission.  in a properly grounded system there
> should be
> close to zero resistance between the battery negative and any of the
> other ground points.  a note here to a degree the quality of the
> readings are somewhat dependent on the quality of the meter, i
> suggest a
> fluke for most people.
>
> if you have done all of this and you haven't found the problem
> then you
> will need to move onto intermittent driving problems or faults.
> this is
> where the digi-tool comes in handy.  although i haven't needed one yet
> with this procedure. :)
>
> jonathan
>
> On Sat, 6 Mar 2004, Warren.K.Lail-1 wrote:
>
> > Hi Malcolm,
> >
> > I'm certainly interested in a Digi-Tool.  I checked out the
> website but
> saw no info on sales.  I tried to follow the link to Darrell's
> site, but
> it kept timing out.  Any other links to Darrel's site?
> >
> > Thanks
> > Warren
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Malcolm Stebbins <mwstebbins@yahoo.com>
> > Date: Saturday, March 6, 2004 1:08 pm
> > Subject: Re: more trouble with Billy
> >
> > > Maybe you should get Darrell Boehler's  digitool
> > > to help you diagnose the problem.  Try:
> > > http://www.251.org/digitool.html  and search the
> > > archives for digitool"   This is truly a great
> > > invention for you EFI types.  Malcolm
> > >
> > >
> > > --- "Warren.K.Lail-1" <wlail@OU.EDU> wrote:
> > > > Oh, I was so proud of myself this afternoon with my
> > > > 'timing success' that I took ole Billy out for a
> > > > drive.  Guess what - now he's skipping worse than
> > > > ever.
> > >
> > > __________________________________
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> > >
> >
>