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Subject:Re: Black Vapor and Rattle
From:Dennis Jowell
Date:Sat, 8 Nov 2014 06:27:17 -0500

Try Craig's VW shop in outside of Burlington .that's who I use. Fairly knowledge .

Dennis Jowell
Scotch Hollow Farm
Newbury Vermont 

> On Nov 7, 2014, at 7:40 PM, Stephen Engel <sengel543@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> My background; I drive an 87 Syncro tintop with 2,000 miles on a rebuilt 2.1 WBX. Fuel tank resealed and new fuel lines run. Coolant lines replaced as well. A few hundred miles after rebuild I developed a chronic excessive vapor pressure problem in the gas tank (vent lines most likely pinched on top of the tank) that was "solved" by drilling a 1/16" hole in the gas cap. Recently upon start up the van would idle at 1,800-2,000rpm for about 2 minutes but then quiet down. Another existing problem is that the power steering pump's high pressure banjo fitting leaks due to a crack. I also have an unreliable fuel sender and ran out of gas about three weeks ago. I may have noticed a noisier fuel pump since then.
> 
> Last night on my way home from a quick trip to Home Depot (about one mile) my van struggled to keep from stalling as if it lost vacuum or compression. 
> 
> This morning it started right up, but it revved up to ~2,200 rpm. Heard a rattle from the right head area (didn't put a stethoscope or stick on it). Noticed the usual water vapor that drips out the tail pipe was BLACK. I shut it down. The coolant looks ok and the oil on the dipstick looks ok.
> 
> Got any ideas on what to look at this weekend? I'll probably be getting towed someplace next week, my mechanical skills and tools are basic. Any recommendations for a shop near Rutland VT? I already checked roadhaus.
> 
> Thanks in advance,
> Steve
> 
> Sent from my iPhone

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