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Subject:Re: Vanagon Digest - 2 Sep 1997 to 3 Sep 1997
From:Wes Neuenschwander
Date:Thu, 4 Sep 1997 07:40:05 8

> Date:    Wed, 3 Sep 1997 20:13:45 -0400
> From:    Ron Mighton <rmighton@PASSPORT.CA>
> Subject: Intermittant loss of power
>
> I have a 90 westfalia that about once a month or so loses power after
> running about 2 miles. It will slow right down and stall. i can always
> start it right up again and it will run oK at an idle but backfire and
> stall if given any gas. It will do this for maybe about 2 minutes then as
> it gets a bit warmer it runs fine again an the problem may not happen
> again for weeks. I have checked for bad grounds but all looks fine . I
> would be grateful for any suggestions. thanks in advance. Ron Mighton
> Toronto,Canada Eh!

Though there are a number of other things known to cause this type of
problem, you might want to *re-check* those ground connections.  I had
precisely this problem with my '91 Westy and it wasn't until the dealer
actually disconnected, cleaned and reconnected *all* of the ground straps
(there are several) that the problem was fixed.  Apparently the on-board
electronics are extremely sensitive to the ground potentials or ground
loop currents that can develop from even minute ground path resistances.
Simple visual inspections, or even re-tightening, of the ground
connections may not be enough.

-Wes

Wes Neuenschwander
Seattle, WA
wesn@eskimo.com