Tom,
Yours is one describing the AFM eventual failure in simple terms. Thanks. I
never looked inside the part and would think that the manufacturer had an
obligation to have the part ( wiper ) which wears down to be a replaceable
part. I understand that no two variable resistors can be absolutely
identical, but I was involved in sophisticated production and dealt with
resistors with no more than 5% difference. The design was allowing perfect
adjustments. Hope that some heads on the list will eventually find the best
and economical solution.
Ark

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Hargrave" <thargrav@hiwaay.net>
To: "'Arkady Mirvis'" <arkadymirvis@GMAIL.COM>; <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, March 05, 2010 8:45 AM
Subject: RE: AIR FLOW METER

> Ark,
>
> Problem is it's a variable resistor that continuously changes value as you
> are going down the road based on airflow through the meter. And the value
> changes by a wiper sweeping back and forth across a carbon track.
> Eventually
> the wiper wears through the carbon track & when this happens the unit gets
> intermittent and then eventually fails. And since this is a wear item they
> will all eventually fail.
>
> Some mechanics have figured out how to fix some of bad ones by relocating
> the wiper so that it sweeps through a new track but once you wear a track
> across the carbon the values are not exactly where they were from the
> factory.
>
> I've often wondered if the working parts from inside another airflow
> meter,
> maybe something more readily available, could be retrofit into a failed
> Vanagon airflow meter. Bosh manufactured millions for a lot of different
> cars and some of the parts have to be common.
>
>
> Thanks,
> Tom Hargrave
> 256-656-1924
>
> Our Web Sites:
> www.kegkits.com
> www.stir-plate.com
> www.andyshotsauce.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of
> Arkady Mirvis
> Sent: Friday, March 05, 2010 1:56 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: AIR FLOW METER
>
> Expensive part! Are failures common? What causes the failure? What are the
> symptoms and consequences of AFM failure? Please name the sources. Ark
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 9.0.733 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2718 - Release Date: 03/04/10
> 13:34:00
>