Jerry,

I'm trying to get one on my '88 GL's up an running and it too is have
start problems. Ultimately, the problem was the injectors. In devining
the problems - it came down to two things. No ignition or no fuel. To
check for ignition, I simply pulled a spark plug, reconnected the
ignition wire, grounded the plug and tried a startup. I could see the
spark plug firing, so I knew  I had ignition at the plug. Ignition then
was not the problem. It had to be fuel was the problem. I next pulled
the injectors on one side, and turned on the ignition, and bumped the
started. No spray came from the injectors. Because I had installed new
fuel lines and knew I had fuel TO the fuel rails, this failure of the
injectors to show a spray pattern was clearly an indication the
injectors were not working, even though from a test light I knew I was
getting an ignition pulse. to the injectors.

What I'm saying here is -before tearing into the distributor, make sure
all connections are tight - and make sure by using that simple spark
plug test that you either are - or you are not - getting ignition spark
at the plugs. If no spark - then go ahead with chasing the hall sender.
If there is spark - test your injector leads for signal, then check the
injectors for spray pattern before doing anything else.

Good hunting.

John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com

Gerald Masar wrote:
> In my never-ending quest to fix "cranks-won't-start" issue on my '88 Westy,
> I am going to swap distributor (with Hall sender intact) from my '90 so I need
> to be able to line things up. I can turn it with a "spanner" or Crescent wrench,
> but proper size socket would be better.
> Is it pretty straight-forward if I follow the instructions in Bentley & Haynes re
> lining up the mark on the pulley and the rotor pointing toward #1?
> Thanks for any additional help anyone can provide and of course, thanks for
> all previous suggestions.
> I don't want to screw up, and end up with TWO non-running Westys. There's
> nothing left in the barn but shank's mares.
> I have swapped ECU's, since that was easier, and still no start.
>
> Jerry
>
>
>