In a message dated 98-06-25 09:51:23 EDT, augrad65@MONT.MINDSPRING.COM writes:

<< My 82 diesel Vanagon starts quickly when it is cold, like after sitting all
 night.  It will also start quickly if restarted immediately after shutting
 it off.
 However, if after driving you shut it off and leave it for just a few
 minutes it does not restart easily (like after a stop at the service
 station).  It cranks over an unusually long time before starting,
 and then when it does start it blows out a lot of smoke initially.
 Can anyone explain this or tell me what to suggest to the mechanic to try to
 fix.
 The injection pump and injectors have recently been rebuilt. >>

Did you have the same problem before fitting the new pump/injectors? or did
the new pump/injectors introduce the problem? The mechanic my not have set the
injection pump timing correctly, or he may have installed the injector heat
sheilds upside down and the injector tips are getting burned.

Is the smoke grey, and quick to dissapate? This *could* be steam from H20 in
the fuel, bad. Or is it blue/grey and lingers/smells heavily of fuel? This
again could be the timing or injector heat sheilds.

Finally, how is your compression? It doesn't sound exactly like a compression
problem, but if the above doesn't help, it may be worth a peek. Also check at
the diesel Vanagons site. There's some there that is smarter than I is about
theez thangs.

gmbulley
cary, nc