On Mar 27, 2011, at 11:20 AM, Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU> wrote:

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> My engine has an intermittent problem.  It dies while driving.  This has been going on for a long time (since last fall).  I'm driving along, usually (but not always) at fairly slow speed, in suburban or urban driving, and it just loses power and then dies.  Sometimes it loses power and if I give it more gas, it bucks and coughs (choose your metaphor) - then sometimes it dies, and other times it feels like something catches in the cough and it starts going normally again.  Feels very weird.

Besides what others have said, check your catalytic converter. With the engine running and the Westy parked on a flat parking spot, parking brake engaged, go the left of the van. Listen for metallic jingling. Sometimes, broken pieces inside the cat will fly around and block the exhaust enough to cause loss of power and eventually stall the engine. Guessing this as a possibility because you mentioned it happening when driving uphill and driving at certain speeds. Both of which can effect how broken pieces inside the cat can behave.

You might also consider checking the fuel supply though the intermittent nature of the problem does suggest something electrical to me.

Regards,

BenT

sent from my electronic leash
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