I was going to say 'fuel pressure regulator'.  My '84 had the regulator fail
and it was drowning in gas - so rich that glub, glub, glub was all it could
manage.

Does it crank fairly evenly?  That low cylinder is a little worrisome.  If
the lifter's had a spasm and is keeping one of the valves from closing
fully...

Good luck!

On Mon, Jul 25, 2011 at 1:29 AM, Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@cfu.net>wrote:

> Drove my 90 GL w/248k on the ODO(Boston Bob rebuild at130k) to work
> last week with no problems.  1 hours later when I try to start it to
> go home, it did start sorta, but wouldn't build up RPMs and was
> running WAY rich.  Checked compression and had the following  1-165
> 2- 135, 3 -95, and 4- 135.  Don't think that's the major problem,
> though.  Towed it home and still haven't figured out the
> problem.  Since this engine has an old school Haltech engine
> management system on it instead of the Digifant, many of the usual
> Vanagon issues might not apply here.  I unplugged the O-2 Sensor and
> there was no improvement.It acts like there's some sort of
> restriction in the exhaust system, but how could it run fine, get
> shut down, and then later in the day not hardly run at all?  I was
> going to remove the Cat and see if it was clogged up, but thought I'd
> check the other stuff first.  The Haltech System is like 10 years
> old, so maybe something like the Throttle Position Sensor might be
> bad??  It runs off of a 1 bar MAP sensor.  I've checked for vacuum
> leaks, but something this bad you would think you'd be hearing the
> hissing if a hose were off or worn through somewhere.  I should try
> and start it again and see what the vacuum gauge is reading.
>
> Could it be something as simple as the fuel pump/filter?  I pulled a
> fuel line off the other night and got spritzed with the pressure from
> the line, so I don't think it's a lack of fuel pressure.  The fuel
> pressure gauge has been reading low for over a month now(like 15-20
> PSI rather than the 29-36 range), but that hasn't stopped it from
> running. normally.  FP Regulator toast???
>
> Any suggestions would be welcome at this point!!!
>
>
> TIA
>
> DM&FS
>

--
Jake

1984 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX - 'The Grey Van'
1986 Westy Weekender/2.5 SOHC Subie - 'Dixie'

Crescent Beach, BC

www.thebassspa.com
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27