Sounds like either a bad ignition switch or one of the terminals that are on
the starter solenoid are loose.

Stan Wilder

----- Original Message -----
From: "Pete Moore" <Pete952@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 1:20 AM
Subject: engine problem

> '80 Westy - less than 5 K on rebuilt engine - has developed a "take a
rest"
> attitude. It runs like a champ for 15, 30 or 120 minutes then just quits -
dead
> - nothing. Let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes and it fires up and goes until
it
> quits again - no cough or sputter - just dead. This thing has been in the
"Air
> cooled VW Specialists" shop for - I don't want to admit how much time and
> replacement parts ( a bunch). All the hull sensors have been replaced at
least
> once and the last time the repalaced the distributor ( it is a CA car). I
think
> it might be one of the several sensors on the engine itself but can't put
any
> consistency to it - after one quit - bout 20 min - it climbed 4000' at a
> steady 8% grade (east side of Yosemite) - then quit when it leveled out at
9000' -
> rested and started again then ran smooth down to 2000' where I stuck it
back
> in the shop and called for my F150. They thought they fixed it - not! I
cannot
> define any consistency with elevation, load, weather, terrain, etc. The
damn
> thing just seems to have a mind of its own and wants to rest. Not too cool
on
> mountain roads with minimal shoulder or Baja with no shoulder at all in
the
> hills. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks for any thoughts, Pete