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Subject:Re: Vanagon GL 90 2.1L engine unexpectedly stalls while driving
From:Laurence Smith
Date:Thu, 20 May 2004 00:33:02 -0400

I'd replace the coil.  The stalling while running and after warming up
a bit can be the coil going bad.  However in such stalling cases, the
engine normally starts up immediately.  Still in your case the coil
may need to cool down a bit to allow a start.  Try the coil.

- Laurence

----------------------------------------
 Laurence Smith
 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
 90 Westy / 90 Subie 2.2 (in progress)
 87 GL / 91 Subie 2.2
----------------------------------------

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List
> [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of TinkerMan
> Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2004 6:25 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Vanagon GL 90 2.1L engine unexpectedly stalls while driving
>
>
> Hello Volks!
>
> I have this problem for some time. The problem is that
> it doesn't occur frequently enough to easaily analyze
> it.
>
> Description: The motor just turns off and refuses to
> restart.
> The motor isn't cold (been driving at least 10
> minutes. Cold start was easy).
> I notice that it's probably not a fuel problem because
> the exhaust smells of unburnt gasoline.
> I also hear the fuel pump turn on and off right after
> I switch the ignition, as it should.
>
> I usually play with the AFM connector, remove and
> replace the HT wires from the distributor, etc. to no
> avail. Somehow, after a few minutes the motor
> restarts. I've been to the dealer but they don't have
> the proper equipment to analyze the motor anymore
> (i'ts been discontinued since 1992).
>
> Of course I was suspecting the AFM (= vanagon
> syndrome), but if it was that then turning the
> ignition switch off and on again would have reset the
> ECU and restarted the motor immediately AFAIK.
>
> I've also heard about bad chasis ground connections.
> Still, the problem goes away without touching them.
>
> I still have to make sure there's a spark when the
> problem occurs (every time, by the time I finished
> playing with connectors, the motor would restart, so
> I'm not sure). I've now got a spark sensor, will try
> when problem re-occurs.
>
> Anyway, I need new ideas to debug this problem. Looks
> like the ECU isn't getting some input it expects, thus
> disabling spark generation.
> Any other reasons except for the erratic AFM issue?
> I would have loved to build the digitool mentioned
> here, but I am afraid to open the ECU to add the
> external flat-cable - a simple mistake might leave me
> with no ECU at all...
> Anyway, most digitool inputs are avaialable elsewere
> in the wiring harness, so I'll go that route.
>
> So, ideas, anyone?
>
>
> =====
> Cheers, T-man.
>
>
>
>
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