In a message dated 23/04/2007 10:46:21 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

OK,  figured it out this weekend, and even though it's a bit embarrassing,
I'm  going to let it be known what the problem was. It wasn't bad gas as I had
started to believe. I had the wrong distributor cap! Now, going back to last
November, I was putting a 2.1 engine into this Vanagon, using the 1.9 FI and
cooling. Originally I was not sure if I could use the 2.1 distributor or had
to use the 1.9-I had to use the 1.9. In the meantime, I had ordered new plugs,
 wires, cap, rotor, etc. and my guess is I had already stuck the new cap on
the  2.1 dist. then swapped it out with the 1.9, leaving the new cap on the
2.1.  The problem is, the wires are the new style connectors, while the cap on
the  1.9 was old style. Now, this engine ran smooth as can be for 1,100 miles.
Never a miss, sputter, anything-it ran very smooth and made good power, all
the while the spark is arcing across the gap in the distributor cap, until
finally it started to degrade-and when it did it went downhill fast. I pulled
the plug wires out of the cap this weekend, and each one had a greenish  tarnish
to it. I then went to my box of 2.1 parts and dug out the 2.1  dizzy-and
there it was, a new cap with new style connectors <sigh>. A  costly mistake on my
part. If you read my post last week about this, you'll  remember I found the
exhaust very hot, which ultimately led to a meltdown of  the cat and nearly set
the wiring across the back on fire (at least that  didn't happen!) Since I
have emissions testing where I live, I'll have to  replace the cat. This also
points out the kind of mistake one can easily make  when (like most of us, I'm
sure) you're doing a project like this, but only  get to work on it an hour
here and an hour there over a period of  time.

            Believe  it or not I see this in my shop at least once a week.
Someone comes in  here with a van that's not performing well. "What have you
done ?"  "I  changed the cap and wires".  "Well, lets have a look see."  And
nine  time outta ten they have the wrong cap and wire combo.  Usually sold to
them by some auto parts place that doesn't have a clue !
Now.......everyone.......go check your cap and wire combo to see if they belong  to one another !!

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg  (Forsale) & Lionel Trains (_Collection
for sale_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
- Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10,  2007