Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
Subject:Re: Momentary Engine Stoppage
From:Jim Felder
Date:Tue, 14 Aug 2012 07:42:49 -0500

This happened to my 90. I first noticed it on long trips to and from New
York, where the engine would cut out for maybe half a second, then not do
it again for hundreds or even thousands of miles. In a couple of years it
had gotten worse--it would die after running fine. I did so much to it for
so long and it was so many years ago that I don'te recall exactly what
fixed it if I ever new, but it seems that cleaning and adjusting the AFM
did the trick. It was definitely NOT the ECU or any sensors. John, if you
want to swap out a good ECU for yours to try it out I will send you one.

Jim

On Mon, Aug 13, 2012 at 9:28 PM, David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net> wrote:

> At 06:08 PM 8/13/2012, JRodgers wrote:
>
>> Was hauling down the road when suddenly the engine just quite for a few
>> seconds. No sputtering, no running rough, no gag-cough-spit. It just
>> quit dead cold then caught again. I feel this to be an
>> electrical/ignition issue rather than an fuel issue. Any opinions about
>> this problem?
>>
>
> For a start, keep yourself prepared for a fast look at the tach the
> next time it happens.  If the tach drops like a rock while the engine
> is still spinning then the ignition primary circuit isn't firing for
> whatever reason.  If the tach tracks with engine rpm then ignition
> primary is working at least somewhat (high voltage still may be
> having a problem and the primary may not be correct, but it is
> generating a pulse of enough magnitude to wake up the tach).
>
> Yours,
> David
>