*perpare your groans here*

So - van starts hesitating several weeks back and finally refuses to start at work parkinglot.

engine turns over... smell gas... looks like spark.   I was very stumped - and while I always suspect

the temp II sensor - **this time seemed very different**   SO i groaned as i had it towed to the dealer.

" i Think there is an electrical problem....I say"

Dealer says it needs a tune up. I mention the car had a cap rotor spark plugs 2 weeks before....

and reply that if that is indeed the problem I will pay for it. 

[Only fair if they figured out the problem...] 

SO  after $511 I skeptically pick up the van and

predictably - 2 hours down the road - we are back to square one.

Return to dealer with tune up bill in hand - saying "you guessed wrong!"   and dealer keeps van for 

2 weeks mumbling the AFM might be bad and they might have to order one.  

I say "errr no... here is my spare"

Dealer takes second AFM - says there is too much CO in the exhaust and severely tweaks the AFM and 

says they did the best they could and come pick it up. NO charge

Pick up van - running worse than before + idling at 1700 RPM and limp it to Peirce automotive [ VW guys]

an hour from home.     Pierce swaps out TEmp II, undoes dealer tweaking..  car all better in errr..  .5 hour

So aside from being an idiot in several different ways .... my lesson is that:

 a bad Temp II sensor can have a variety of symptoms and can never be ruled out without testing.

a 2.1 vanagon owner should always have spare Temp II's [ many are defective new!] and be able to swap it out

in less than 60 seconds.

Meanwhile - with a typed out diagnosis from Pierce - I am bagging up the $511 tune up parts and mailing them 

back to the dealer for a refund.   [ which i am sure will be entertaining.]

Sorry for the rant.  I WANT MY VAN BACK. 

Happy camping to all !  :O)

Tom Myers
Syracuse NY
motsvan.blogspot.com

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