With running engine I pulled one sparkplug wire at a time. For each one
I would notice that the particular cylinder would stop firing, so I don't
think I have a (completely) failed

I checked for sparks on the plugs when I pulled them for the compression
test. (plugs outside, cranking engine) Looked like strong blue spark on each
plug,
but I may not have been very careful to look at each. I'll redo that
next time.

Do you think I need to check wires and plugs more?

I've got to check what timing light I have. Last used it 15 years ago.
(Girlfriend at the time had a Plymouth Reliant with Mitsubishi 2.6 gas
engine. Was a nicely built engine mechanically, but I never got the
electronic feedback carburetor working quite right. After the car
was totaled I didn't touch a gas engine until this year.)

Thanks,
Martin

On 7/8/07, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> I would go for a bad ignition wire first. The wires are usually OK but the
> resistor ends by the spark lugs are hi failure items. They can both open
> and short to the engine. An inductive timing light can often find the
> offender. The bad wire won't fire the light.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Martin Jagersand
> Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 12:01 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: A bit rough idle, running. Unbalanced injectors?
>
> Hi all,
>
> I have a question about a gas engines rough idling and running.
> This is my '94 Westy, so its the I5, but I imagine the 4cyl can
> have similar symptoms/problems also.
>
> Symptoms are:
> Rough running. Not misfiring, but just rough.
> Particularly noticeable as a vibration at idle (but motor
> mount ok), but also noticeable at speed and as a rough sound
> when accelerating.
>
> I think the Westy also has somewhat worse gas mileage and
> less power, though that I haven't measured this objectively.
>
> Trouble shooting I did:
> I checked spark plugs and they are all good.
> I couldn't localize it to a particular cylinder by pulling one
> spark plug wire at a time.
>
> Compression good on all cyl.
>
> I checked temp sensors, and startup sequence. As far as
> I see it behaves normally. (At startup has 1000rpm high idle,
> warms up, drops to about 850. Two temp sensors change
> Ohm-value correspondingly. Both rpm stable, but running at
> both are a bit too rough.)
>
> Neither the VW dealer, nor another local shop could figure it out.
>
> Having worked only on Diesels my whole life, gas engine
> electronic injections and the many ways they can give trouble
> is beyond me, so I'm hoping for some advice.
>
> Could it be just unbalanced injectors? Tried running a couple of
> tanks with injector cleaner, but didn't help.
>
> How difficult is it to pull the injectors on the Eurovan Westy?
> I can't see them looking from the top. I could try do it myself
> or take it to a garage.
>
> Anyone knows of a good Canadian injector service? (I found several
> US web sites, but would hate have my injectors delayed in customs.
> I don't have a second set)
>
> Thanks for any advice.
>
> Martin
> --
> Martin Jagersand
> University of Alberta
> http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~jag/
>
>

--
Martin Jagersand
University of Alberta
http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~jag/