I replaced the cap and rotor before the trip approx. 1,200 miles ago.
that's when I noticed the retaining clip had been replaced.  I called my
father (van's three hundred miles away) and had him pull the cap and check
it out and he says that the inside of the cap is grooved in the plactic and
the tip of the rotor is worn.  It sounds like I need to get a new retaining
clip for the distributor cap.  Does anyone know where I can find one?
-----Original Message-----
From: Debi Webi <mtngal@yosemite.net>
To: Gary Basey <gbasey@LINK2000.NET>
Date: Saturday, August 14, 1999 1:53 PM
Subject: Re: Engine hesitation -- Need Help!

>How new is the dist cap/rotor?
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Gary Basey <gbasey@LINK2000.NET>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Saturday, August 14, 1999 10:16 AM
>Subject: Engine hesitation -- Need Help!
>
>
>| My family and I were 1,200 miles into a 1,500 mile vacation when our
>| '80 Westy (2.0 aircooled) begin to buck and kick.  It never died but we
>| couldn't get above 40 MPH.  It seemed to want to take off but would
>hesitate
>| .
>|
>| I pulled over and found that the temp 2 sensor was loose so I tightened
it
>| and
>| that didn't improve the engine performance.  I subsequently replaced the
>| sensor and it still bucks and hesitates.
>|
>| Engine history:
>|
>| bottom end rebuilt 30,000 miles ago (according to PO)
>| top end (P & Cs and heads) 5,000 miles ago (personally)
>|
>|
>| Can anyone offer any suggestions?
>|
>| I did notice that the PO had replaced one of the distributor cap
retaining
>| clips with some sort of metal band.  That allows the cap to have some
free
>| play.  Could this be the problem?  Does anyone have an extra retaining
>clip?
>|
>| Please help a fellow listee whose westy is stranded 300 miles from home
>(we
>| rented a car to get home and the van is at my parents home in Indiana)
>|
>|
>| Thanks for all your help past and present.
>|
>| Gary
>|
>| '80 westy (sick but not dead)
>|
>
>