My '87 syncro is doing the same thing.  I have decided it is not a fuel
problem.  Mine will sometimes start.  Of the three items you listed...coil,
hall sensor, and ecu, which is most likely to operate intermittently?  (I
sometimes smell fuel when I crank).  My van was fine one day, and not the
next.
Thanks,
John
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ken Wilford" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 2:27 AM
Subject: Re: Won't Start...Again 2.1L

> You have to determine why it is not starting.  When it throws the fit,
> try checking for spark by pulling a spark plug out, and having someone
> hold it against the engine while you crank over the motor.  If you have
> no spark then it could be the coil, hall sensor or ECU (or a broken wire
> but probably not).
>
> Do you smell fuel after it won't crank?  If it has spark then pull the
> injectors to see if they are squirting (be sure to remove the plug wire
> on the top of the distributor cap and ground it so the van won't try to
> fire while doing this).
>
> If they are working then you only have four other things to check:
> intake- check to see that there is no blockage of the intake.
> exhaust- put your hand near the exhaust pipe while someone cranks it
> over and see if you feel exhaust coming out.
> compression- get a compression tester and see what the numbers are.
> timing- the last thing I would mess with because it does start some times.
>
> I hope this helps.  If you want you can give me a call at 856-327-4936
> tomorrow and I'll try to walk you through the troubleshooting.
>
> Sincerely,
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com
>
> Barrett Willet wrote:
>
>> '88 2.1L
>> More of the same this weekend.  Intermittent case of the "No-Starts".
>> This is now the 3rd camping trip I've had to cancel because of the van.
>> Friday morning it didn't start on the first 2 tries and then starts up.
>>  Stopped to get gas and no problems with starting.  Trying to leave
>> work that afternoon and it wouldn't start.
>>
>> It's cranking fine and the tach is moving to about 1000 when cranking.
>> I believe this is an indicator that the Hall Sensor is working.  Can
>> anyone confirm?
>>
>> It actually does catch but idles like its getting combustion only once
>> a second. Blump,(1sec) blump,(1sec) blump.  Tach barely hops during
>> this.  Does not get any better if I press the gas and eventually dies
>> after about 10 sec.
>>
>> I'm stumped at this point and any help would be appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks
>> Barrett Willet
>> '88 Wolfsburg
>>
>