Interesting that was exactly my thought after I replied. Noting your
Golf is 94 that it must use the TDC to derive the limp-home ignition
timing.

I am sure my 89 Vanagon is not that advanced.

- Vince

http://gipsyflies.home.comcast.net
1989 Vanagon GL Camper
1993 Mazda Miata (for sale)
1996 Land Rover Discovery
2005 Mini Cooper S

-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Alofs [mailto:lalofs@rcn.com]
Sent: Sunday, September 12, 2004 7:48 PM
To: Vince S
Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: The "syndrome" solutions

Yes, the Golf system is different.  If I recall, its ECU gets info from
the engine speed/TDC sensor and fine tunes the timing based on the
signal from the "camshaft position" sensor at the distributor.  I can't
check this in the Bentley because it's with the car in Texas and I'm in
Chicago.  I was somewhat surprised when I pulled the connector at the
distributor and the engine didn't stop.

Larry A.

Vince S wrote:
> Larry,
>
> I could be wrong as the ignition on my 89 Vanagon never gave me
> problem so I am not too up to speed on the exact working principal.
> Being the hall sensor in the distributor it must also used by the
> ignition to time the spark plugs in each cylinder while the ECU also
> use this signal for fuel injection management. How can the hall sensor

> fail and the engine still run? You will lost ignition or the timing be

> all over the place in the case of the metal rotor which triggers the
> Hall sensor is loose from the distributor shaft.
>
> Does your Golf has a separate sensor for the ignition timing
> generation?
>
>
> - Vince
>
> http://gipsyflies.home.comcast.net
> 1989 Vanagon GL Camper
> 1993 Mazda Miata (for sale)
> 1996 Land Rover Discovery
> 2005 Mini Cooper S
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of Larry Alofs
> Sent: Sunday, September 12, 2004 6:03 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: The "syndrome" solutions
>
>
> I have not had Hall sensor problems with a Vanagon, but I just went
> thru it with a '94 Golf.  This one would fail intermittently, which
> made it so much more interesting to track down.  On the Golf it
> doesn't kill the engine, it just puts it into a default mode which was

> rich enough to make it fail emissions testing.  I finally caught it in

> the act using an oscilloscope (not convenient on the road).  You may
> be able to monitor it with an LED.  In the Golf, the ECU supplies +5 V

> and the Hall circuitry in the distributor makes and breaks a
> connection to ground.  I don't know if the Vanagon approach is the
same.
>    I don't even know if an '85 has a Hall sensor.
>
> good luck,
> Larry A.
>
>
> Mark Edwards wrote:
>
>>A friend has a water cooled 85 that cuts out for no obvious reason.
>>Drives on the freeway, warmed up, or just starting out, and it cuts
>>out. Pull off the road, and it starts back up again. Sit at a light,
>>and it just shuts off. Then starts back up. It has never left him
>>stranded, but his wife is demanding that he sell the van, as she does
>>not care for the stress involved.
>>
>>I have been through the archives, and its loaded with lots of
>>information, ideas, and things to try,  but what I am not going to
>>find in there, at least very easily, are reports from folks who have
>>actually solved  this kind of issue, and what the resolution is.
>>
>>In order not to keep refilling the archives with everyone's ideas and
>>opinions, for which I am grateful, is it possible to just receive some
>
>
>>posts from those who have actually "lived through" this with the
>>results of what you did to fix the problem? I am guessing there are
>>multiple variations on the symptoms, but hearing from folks who have
>>actually fixed their vans would be really appreciated.
>>
>>Thanks for any replies.
>>
>>Mark
>>
>
>