I had the exact same experience a few years ago after running my Westy VERY low on fuel. No power, could barely maintain 50 mph. Changed the fuel filter and it got a little better, but the engine felt like it had lost 25 hp. Sent the injectors out to get them cleaned and was cruising at 75 mph again! Jeff Stewart ----- Original Message -----
> John,
> I have just spent 5 months over the winter here trying to figure out
> why my 89 Vanagon did not run right.
> It started, idled fines and got going reving up to 4K RPM. I could not
> get going in 3rd and 4th gear bearly hitting 50 MPH.
> I have changed every component, some twice:
> Muffler, cat, manifold
> fuel pump, fuel filter, Fuel pressure regulator
> plugs, wires, cap, ECU
> o2 sensor, temp 2 sensor, air filter, AFM
> etc.
> AND FINALLY the INJECTORS. Rather than go through the agony that I
> just went through, Check your injectors. they do go bad and these were
> intermittent so really hard to pin-point.
> Happy Camping,
> Joel Cort
> Rochester NY
> jcort@rochester.rr.com
> joel_cort@yahoo.com
> 89 Syncro Westy (VanGo)
> 87 Syncro Transporter (Stella Blue)
> 73 Westy Campmobile (Agent Orange)
> Western New York LiMBO Respresentative www.limbobus.org
> Founding member of the Empire State VW Camping Club
> www.empirevwcamping.org
> Westies@Watkins XI is planned for September 21-22-23, 2012
> www.westies-at-watkins.org
> ________________________________
> From: JRodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Sent: Monday, March 26, 2012 6:08 PM
> Subject: Re: '88 GL - Gradual Power Loss
> I'll check it out.!
> Thanks,
> John
> On 3/26/2012 4:23 PM, walkingboss wrote:
> > How to diagnosis stopped up exhaust, including catalytic converter,
> > muffler,
> > collapsed exhaust pipe, BANANA UP THE TAIL PIPE (Eddie Murphy
> > Beverly Hills
> > Cop), etc.
> >
> > 1) Power loss - Worse at speed, wont notice much when free wheeling
> > engine
> > 2) Funny exhaust sound (somewhat of a "Hissing" sound)
> > 3) Place a vacuum gauge on a intake side outlet. Gauge will read
> > almost
> > normal at idle, will go into a "Pressure" reading at about 2000
> > RPM's. You
> > will get pressure from crankcase, or oil filler cap.
> > 4) After running for a while, shoot the exhaust system end to end
> > with a
> > infrared temp gauge. The temp will be very high at the point of
> > blockage,
> > may even glow red hot at that point. It will be cold or cool beyond
> > that
> > point.
> >
> > AVOID ANY CATALYTIC CONVERTER DUST!
> >
> >
> > Howard
> >
> > Buy Low - Sell High
> > Don't Eat The Yellow Snow !
> >