Michael Diehr wrote:
> Our beloved van "Cinco" (an 85 purchased for $5k on Cinco-de-Mayo)
> stalled on the freeway yesterday returning from an otherwise
> wonderful vacation.  We managed to tow it home with the help of a u-
> haul auto-transporter, a cable-pull, and a lot of grunting, swearing,
> & sweat.
>
> I'd greatly appreciate help with a diagnosis.
>
> The details:
>   85 Westy 1.9l automatic transmission.
>   150k miles on engine.
>   One head replaced by PO (not sure of mileage)
>   Has long-term minor head leak (exhaust smells a bit like coolant,
> burns about 1 liter / 200 miles)

first wild A#% guess off the top of my head begs me to ask...

...any back firing (yet)?

tendency to stall (with need tow) and knowing coolant makes its way into
your exhaust I'm wondering what the condition of your catalytic
converter is?

Have you ever replaced it?  Can you drop it and take a look at the
insides?  clogged up, cracked, or broken and you can probably say your
engine isn't breathing.

If that isn't it...then on to more subtle potential causes.

--

Wil

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