Matilda has been just fine after following Jim Fritz's instructions to clean
out the little screen in my fuel pump.

Till this morning.  I headed out of my campsite (down a dirt road, very
quiet and peaceful and free) and headed up the hill into Custer.  I had no
power.  Well, almost none.  First it got up to around 35 or 40 but was
hesitating and jumping, and the coolant light was on, though the engine was
cold.  I stopped, turned the engine off, waited a bit, turned it on again,
and tried again.  Now it wouldn't get above 2000 rpm or around 25 mph.  I
made it to the top of the hill (pretty steep) and pulled over, where I am
now making coffee and waiting for the engine to cool down enough that I can
check the coolant.

I don't think it's a coolant problem, though.

I have filled the tank a few times with the mix of regular fuel and ethanol
that they sell here.  Gas mileage went down, and I stopped buying it.  Could
that have messed something up?  Now I have regular gas in the tank.

So, suggestions?

1.  VW mechanics anywhere near Custer, SD?  Ah, I see from Larry's site that
the famous Rocky who helped Frank Condelli's' friend to is in Rapid City.
Yippee!  Even within AAA towing range!  I already spent two days in Rapid
City, it's an okay place to be stuck for a bit.  Whew.  Though I sure would
like to make it to the buffalo roundup in Custer State Park tomorrow.  :-)
Anyone going to it?

2.  What might cause it to suddenly lose power that dramatically? My
previous power problems came on quite gradually and weren't so dramatic.

Oh, and for those who have been following any of my sagas - I did manage to
fix my windshield wiper when it went kaflooie in the middle of the storm
(thank you, Tom Shiels, who showed me how a month ago in Ontario!) and to
finish repairing and hooking up my water tank (thank you, Frank Condelli,
who diagnosed the problem six months ago at Everybus).  Maybe I'm educable,
slightly?

I'd be glad of any thoughts on what would cause such a sudden loss of power!
And if Matilda doesn't magically repair herself this morning, I guess I'll
be getting towed to Rocky in Rapid City.

Joy

p.s.  Karl, are you actually anywhere in this area - like Colorado?  (I
know, that's not exactly close!)  I'd love to have you take a look at my van
and see what you can see, if we end up anywhere near the same place at the
same time.  Though at the moment I may not even be leaving Custer, SD, so
that might not work at all.  But you keep telling me I need to have a
reliable mechanic look it all over, and you are the most reliable mechanic I
know.

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Joy Hecht
and Matilda, 1989 Burgundy Vanagon

For musings about life and the vanadventures:
http://users.rcn.com/jhecht/gypsy

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