When this happened to me this summer, it turned out to be a bad catalytic
convertor.  Which surprised me, as I had had the rest of the exhaust
replaced and thought that they would've given the cat a good once-over.
Unless they were the ones who damaged it . . .

Jeff
85 Westfalia GL
Winnipeg

----- Original Message -----
From: "Don in Phoenix" <02BuellS3T@COX.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, March 13, 2004 5:40 PM
Subject: Re: my 83.5 Vanagon gets no power

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "alexander may" <mr_may21@HOTMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Sat 13 March 2004 16:22
> Subject: my 83.5 Vanagon gets no power
>
>
> > Hello to everyone who is on the list.  Im a new member and just recently
> > bought an 83 watercooled Vanagon Westfalia.  I've had it maybe less than
a
> > month and took it recently on a trip to Samuel P. Taylor State Park for
a
> > night of camping.  It was the first time I had driven it for longer than
> 10
> > miles and it did not perform that well.  Everything was fine on the way
> > there, but on the way home through the hills of Point Reyes I began to
> have
> > serious trouble with power.  We would start to climb a hill and
immediatly
> > loose speed on the incline.  I'd have it floored and would still
continue
> to
> > loose power.  We finally had to drop it into second just to make the
crest
> > of the hill.  On the straight aways, and in fourth gear, I would max out
> at
> > a top speed of 40 mph.  Has this happened to anyone?  Can someone tell
me
> > what could be the problem?  If it has happened to you what were the
> repairs
> > you needed done?  I bought the Van to go cross country this summer and
am
> > afraid that I might have to replace the engine...  Please help with some
> > advice.
> >
> > bummin
>
> How many miles on the engine?  Any unusual noises?  Any excessive oil or
> coolant use?  Are there any signs of a coolant leak - spots under the
> engine, wet spots in the head area, etc?
>
> I would take it to a shop and have a compression and leak down test
> performed.  Those tests will let you know where the issue lies.  It
doesn't
> sound happy, though...
>
> Don in Phoenix, AZ
>
>