Volks:

A few minutes ago, I sent the following message to Chris in response to
his post and sent a copy to the list.  The list bounced it because with
the attachments, which usually are stripped, it was too long.  (Never
had this happen before.)  And Chris's mail system also rejected it
saying that the user was unknown.  So, I am reposting without the
attachments so maybe Chris will see it.

Chris, if you are interested in the Fuel Injection diagnosis files, let
me know how to send them to you.

Sam

Chris,

You are probably talking about 3 distinct problems with your van.

The fuel smell from fill up means there is a bad hose or gasket around
the fuel tank.  Until you can get it fixed, don't fill up, just estimate
how many gallons will get you close to filled up based on mileage since
the last fillup.  This has nothing to do with the other problems.  When
you are ready to tackle that there is lots info in the archives, plus a
description of how to fix this is on the Vanagain.com website.

The starting problem relates to something in the Fuel Injection system
and has nothing to do with the gas smell or the transmission.  I am
attaching some files that provide lots of information from the archives
about FI system diagnosis.  Either some sender in the FI system is bad
or there is a wiring / ground problem.  These are often intermittent and
one check that shows the wiring is "fine" doesn't mean that is true.

Your most serious problem now is the transmission.  You have probably
already gotten the correct analysis on the transmission - that it is the
3/4 slider, but it could be other things.  Search the archives for posts
by Daryl Christensen of AA Transaxle and Dennis Haynes.  Both are real
experts on the transmission and have described these problems clearly.
You don't have to go back more than 3-6 months to get relevant posts
from both of them as this is rather common.

Attachments will be stripped on copy to the list.

Sam

--
Sam Walters
Baltimore, MD

89 Syncro GL
85 Westy Weekender
84 Vanagon, original owner, soon to be retired, just too many problems

All incoming and outgoing email scanned by
automatically updated copy of Norton AntiVirus.