A couple of times over the years I've had an ignition coil fail after
a period of driving.  After letting everything cool down for a while
it would work again. Got one you could swap in?

Tom L

On Thu, Aug 25, 2011 at 2:18 AM, neil n <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hey all.
>
> Had a great trip in and around OR. Attended the WetWestie Tinfoil hat
> event (meteor shower) at Sheep Bridge, took off to the High and Dry
> Blue Grass Festival, then enjoyed some great nights at other US forest
> service CG's. Other than my cat, which snapped off at beginning of
> trip.....   ;)
>
> Driving home, pedal to metal for short burst (less than 1 mile), going
> 70 MPH up hill, van died. One of my worst fears is having my van die
> on the freeway, but thankfully had room to pull over. It had been
> running fine otherwise.
>
> My current theories as to why it died involve possible excessive heat
> in engine bay, due to ambient heat, my tubbed engine lid, fuel lines
> close to tubbed portion, etc. That said, the engine coolant temps were
> always "normal";  temp gauge needle almost always at 12:00, van did
> not overheat at any time.
>
> Theory 1 :  (far fetched)
>
> Non stock positioned fuel hoses got "heated" up from engine block
> heat, hotter than normal fuel returned to tank, hotter than normal
> fuel not cooling fuel pump sufficiently.
>
> Theory 2:
>
> ECU relay got heated up and opened. ECU, fuel pump, and HO2 relay all
> in VW black box, but box sits close to coolant "send" hose to rad.
>
> Theory 3:
>
> on this trip, the cat was welded twice. ECU was NOT disconnected each
> time. Had read that it's good practice to disconnect ECU if welding
> the van or parts on van. Could welding have damaged the ECU ?
>
> Theory 4:
>
> Engine bay temps too high causing hotter than normal air to be drawn
> in the intake.  (I will be installing my intake snorkel soon!)
>
> After it stalled, I checked connections at relays, all good. Tried to
> hear if fuel pump primed when key turned, but free way too noisy.
> After van sat with engine cover off, it started. Pulled off to quieter
> parking lot. Could hear pump prime, but priming didn't sound as it
> usually did. Regardless, it fired up almost every time. When it didn't
> fire, the check engine light was not on when key turned to "ign. on".
> This is why I suspect ECU relay.
>
> After the event and subsequent testing, it ran fine. I kept speeds at
> ~ 55 mph. When ambient temps cooler, ran it at ~ 60 MPH. It ran just
> fine, with no starting issues for remaining 200 miles or so.
>
> < scratches head >
>
> All I can figure is that the hotter ambient temps and higher speeds
> affected something. Maybe the fuel pump is on it's last legs? I didn't
> bypass the FP relay as it eventually started and ran fine. When
> running, fuel pump sounded normal.
>
> Thoughts on my theories or tips on any other causes are much appreciated!
>
> Neil.
>
>
>
> --
> Neil n
>
> 65 kb image Myford Ready For Assembly  http://tinyurl.com/64sx4rp
>
> '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"  http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>
> Vanagon VAG Gas I4/VR Swap Google Group:
>
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
>