Just a question -

My 85 is running with cylinders at 85-90-115-120, and I have no loss of
power. (at least not more than normal, I think)  I worried about this
for months on end until Peter at Volkscafe said the compression numbers
can be really deceiving and off for a number of reasons and not to
worry until I actually notice a loss of power.  I'm definitely getting
close to that 44lb mark.  Should I start worrying again?

-eric

On Tuesday, August 24, 2004, at 11:28 AM, Jonathan Farrugia wrote:

> Shiva
>
> stop randomly guessing it will cost you far more money in the end with
> little in the way of results.  test all the fuel injection components
> to
> see if they meet spec.  also test the wiring harness, as these vehicles
> age the wiring harnesses fail from heat and vibration.  additionally
> have
> the engine leakdown tested to see why those compression numbers are so
> far
> apart, thats not a good sign.  44lbs is the max allowable difference
> between cylinders if i remember and you are getting close to that.
>
> jonathan
>
> On Tue, 24 Aug 2004, Shiva Polefka wrote:
>
>> Hello again-- many thanks to those that replied to my previous post.
>> I
>> realize I should consider searching the archives more extensively,
>> but I'm
>> already $300 and many hours in to this problem without any
>> improvements and
>> would like to be tossed a bone.  In advance please pardon the lengthy
>> narrative and request for help that follow.
>>
>> My 1984 GL has been maintained attentively and pre-emptively during
>> its
>> entire 120k.  Last month, as i ascended Wyoming's Big Horn Mountains
>> (up to
>> 10000ft) , the engine switched from a smooth running hum to a rougher
>> but
>> regular throaty purr.  The next day, back at 3000ft, the van
>> continued to
>> make this more ugly sound, and felt like it was running on 3/4 power
>> --> i
>> couldnt drive faster than 55mph, and it took a long time to get up to
>> that
>> speed.
>>
>> Wyoming's local garage monkeys claimed they could fix vanagons.  They
>> replaced the fuel filter, the spark plugs and the distributor rotor,
>> and
>> claimed the problem was fixed.  As soon as i hit the road again
>> however, i
>> discovered that in fact the problem appeared to have not even been
>> addressed,
>> with all symptoms essentially unchanged.  Needing to return to the job
>> however (rather than wait any more in WY), i crossed my fingers and
>> continued, and wound up limping slowly but succesfully all the way
>> back
>> across the Western states to Southern California.
>>
>> That experience allowed me to log with some exactitude the symptoms
>> of my
>> van's malaise, which follow: in the morning, when starting cold, the
>> engine
>> runs somewhat smooth and fully powered, but displays the infamous
>> chugging to
>> a significant degree.  After ~5minutes of running (after the
>> thermostat opens
>> up?) power drops off dramatically, and the engine switches from
>> smooth hum to
>> throaty purr.  In fourth gear, at ~50mph, the "miss-y" (but regular)
>> throatyness and diminished power are particulary acute, and getting
>> above
>> this speed is really difficult.  A long hill here in town that used
>> to be
>> ascended in 3rd gear at 35 is now a humiliating second gear, ~20mph
>> experience.
>>
>> Once this apparently temperature-induced transition occurs,
>> lurching/chugging
>> ceases.  A couple times while at highway speed, i've felt a temporary
>> surge
>> as throatiness disappears and full power resumes.  each time this
>> lasted a
>> couple seconds, no more.
>>
>> My local mechanic, who is widely considered trustworthy and
>> experienced, was
>> unable to figure it out.  He changed the sparkplug wires and added
>> German
>> fuel-injector cleaner, to no effect.  If memory serves, his
>> compression test
>> yieled 165 on two cylinders and 135 on the others.
>>
>> My internet searching has lead me to suspect my air flow meter, dirty
>> grounding wire attachments, a need for a $190 "wiring harness," or a
>> vacuum
>> leak issue.  Any clues as to where to look next would be -greatly-
>> appreciated.  Thanks in advance--  my combination of frustration and
>> love
>> evoked by my van makes me really look forward to getting it back up
>> to full
>> speed.
>>
>> sp.
>>
>>
>>
>>
------------------------------
Eric Spletzer
Crafted Earth Design
1577C Pershing Drive
San Francisco, CA 94129
415.221.3742 - land
415.699.9662 - mobile

"Ad astra per alia porci" - John Steinbeck