Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
Subject:Re: Vanagon syndrome...it sucks!
From:Stuart MacMillan
Date:Thu, 7 Apr 2016 09:39:58 -0700

If you have an '86 or later with the O2 sensor on the cat, you can either
have a muffler shop cut out the old sensor and weld in a new bung (BTDT), or
if you remove the cat you'll need to put the new sensor bung as close to the
Y-junction on the exhaust pipe as you can or it won't get hot enough, and
the engine will run very rich.  BTDT too.  Do not put it on the cat bypass
pipe!

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jason Ellis
Sent: Thursday, April 07, 2016 9:09 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Vanagon syndrome...it sucks!

I wanted to post a follow up to my syndrome issues.

I changed the Temp2 sender, unplugged the O2 sensor and had soldered in a
35V 22uF capacitor.  I ended up getting surging while driving around town
which had never happened before.  I can't get my O2 sensor out and a new one
is sitting on the work bench.  I may have a little cat bypass pipe made with
an O2 bung in it.

Peter Lapp driveway camped with us last weekend and was kind enough to give
me one of the VW AFM pigtails.  I removed my capacitor and plugged in the
pigtail.  So far, so good!  We'll see when I get it on the freeway this
weekend.

Once again, thanks for all the help!

Jason

On Mar 21, 2016, at 11:02 AM, Jason Ellis <jason.ellis@me.com> wrote:

Just wanted to say that you guys are awesome. I had completely forgotten
about how the O2 and Temp2 sensors play into this. I had the blinders on!

Let me do some work and get back to you guys!

Jason

On Mar 21, 2016, at 10:54 AM, Dan N <dn92610@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

I am no specialist in the vanagon syndrome but all the vanagon I own has
that problem..

as suggested the O2 sensor, the temp2 sensor, the throttle body switch all
can give the syndrome...

as for the AFM the things to do is cleaning the the carbon track, add the
capacitor or the pig tail harness. Another thing to check is the AFM
harness it self, it has to be in good condition and the cable is not too
tight...