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Subject:Re: 02 sensor life
From:Coddington
Date:Mon, 5 Jul 1999 13:13:49 -0700

Hi Peter, Please tell us how you adjusted your AFM to run leaner. We need a
step by step lesson.
Thankyou, Tom in No. Calif.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of Peter Zendzian
> Sent: Monday, July 05, 1999 11:28 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: 02 sensor life
>
>
> >From my fumbelings, the hesitation comes from the fuel mixture
> controlled by
> the AFM.  I adjusted mine to run leaner and the hesitation went away.
>
> Pete
> peterz@hawaii.rr.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: j fritz <jfritz@DECORAH.K12.IA.US>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, July 05, 1999 7:54 AM
> Subject: 02 sensor life
>
>
> Volks,
>
> Gearing up for a 5000 mile trip but would like to raise the gas mileage
> (16.5 mpg @65 mph) and eliminate the bogging down that occurs when pulling
> away from stop lights.  (Basically the pedal feels "dead" until you get up
> to about 2000 rpm and then there is a surge.  It is especially
> bad with the
> AC on.  People behind me swear and honk the horn....I don't
> really care, but
> it doesn't allow for the occassional "need to get up to speed
> quickly" type
> of getaway.)  The engine idles beautifully and starts great.  I've
> occassionally noticed a slight surge at highway speeds but I
> really think it
> occurs when the AC pump is kicking on and off.
>
> Since I bought my 89 Westy last fall I've put in Bosch plat plugs, put on
> new Michelins MXTs, KYBs, a sway bar, changed fuel lines, oil/air/gas
> filters, new Dansk muffler, switched all oil to synthetic and
> flushed/changed to non-phosphate coolant.  My budget (and my wife's
> patience) is running out :-)
>
> Many members have offered suggestions but before I spend the
> bucks I have a
> couple of questions:  My Westy has 57,000 miles on it.  I believe the O2
> sensor light is due to come on at 60,000 and I know how to shut it off BUT
> does it also mean the sensor is probably shot too?  Since my maintenance
> budget is running low I need to prioritize my remaining things to
> do before
> the trip.
> I'd appreciate your input on what I should focus on to try to
> eliminate the
> bogging and the poor gas mileage.  Should it be #1 replace O2 sensor, #2
> replace cap and rotor (I think the PO replaced the cap at some
> prior time as
> it looks newer/cleaner and the metal ring that goes around it to eliminate
> noise in the radio is now sitting in one of the rear cabinets), #3 replace
> coil or plug wires, #4?????          I can afford to do some of this but
> unless the list feels strongly, I'd rather not do it all at this time.
> Your comments are greatly appreciated!!!!!!!
>
> Jim in Iowa
> 91 Passat Wagon GL
> 89 Westy
> 66 Beetle
>

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