there was a recent samba thread where a chap made a smoke box from a
paint can, two connections on can, one to a compressor, the other a
tube/hose to a plug he made to fit afm input. He made smoke with an
old rag lit and smouldering in can, and pushed the smoke in with light
air pressure. He looked for smoke coming out of air intake system.

alistair

On 27-May-11, at 10:08 AM, neil n wrote:

> Assuming this issue did not happen after recent work you did.....
>
> My first thought is "check for a vacuum leak".
>
> I've read that spraying starter fluid or even WD40 (WD40 safer to
> use?) on suspect vacuum hoses, intake boot can be revealing. Idle is
> affected if the spray is sucked into the intake.
>
> I was curious about the WD40 use. One comment online suggested that
> using it may harm the O2 sensor. Not sure if poster meant that "too
> much" or "any" amount of WD40 would do this.
>
> There should be info in the archives on this vacuum leak check method.
>
> Neil.
>
> On Fri, May 27, 2011 at 5:51 AM, John Lauterbach
> <jhlauterbach@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>> My '84 Vanagon is exhibiting some strange symptoms.  Engine is Boston
>> Bob 1.9L installed 9/2003 and everything that I could buy new to go
>> with
>> it I did.  Also recently changed rotor and distributor cap and made
>> sure
>> there was no corrosion at connection between spark plugs and plug
>> wires.
>> Timing is right on and idle is around 900 rpm. With van warm and
>> going
>> up slight grade with automatic transmission in "high", engine will
>> sometimes run roughly.  I never had this problem before.  Is there a
>> solution other than throwing dollars at the problem with new plugs,
>> wires, O2 sensor, etc.?
>>
>> John
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
>
> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines