The huge puff of smoke is an indication that the engine was flooded.
Flooding on a warm or hot restart is usually a sign of a bad connection to
or a defective temp 2 sensor. When the ECU sees the sensor open or a high
resistance it says bring on the fuel for a cold start in really cold
weather. This is needed when the fuel does not vaporize. On a warm engine
the fuel vaporizes quickly and the lack of oxygen prevents combustion so
you get the no start.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Chad Lyles
Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2008 3:19 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: WHAT JUST HAPPENED???

Hello,
well as i announced this morning ...i passed DEQ and Hoppy is running
GREAT... i went and got my new tags at DMV and then went to the
bank...(all
in hoppy) i was in the bank for 10 minutes came out and hoppy wouldnt
start... it would turn but not kick... checked the coil to see if i was
getting a fire...i was getting consistant fire. checked the fuel pump to
see
if it was humming it was humming. every thing was as it should be... i
could
smell gas so gas was moving and  had just filled up this morning ...but no
VROOM...
i called the mechanic he was puzzled and said "just get it towed" (which i
was like, "yeah i am 30 miles from you and i cant pay load up and 3 bucks
a
mile on that!") so i called the tow truck and i was packing my stuff up
and
i thought hmm... i will try one more time... i put the pedal to the floor
and cranked up... huge puff of smoke and strong smell of gas then
VROOOOM!!!

so back to my question: WHAT JUST HAPPENED????
would the fact that i was parked on a incline maybe have been the start of
this non starting? its never done that before... i am just frustrated to
the
max right now. i cant afford to keep putting her in the shop every 2
days...is this some thing i should worry about or chalk it up to a fluke?

--
Chad~
84gl "Hop-a-long"