TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Mar 11, 2005 12:48 pm

I'm selling my '82 Vanagon. The problem is, runs but shuts down when it warms up. I've been told, it could be an O2 sensor,a bad condensor or the coil or ECU(vapor-lock maybe?).

ps. Any help on this would be awesome. Thanks in advance.

Fri Mar 11, 2005 1:06 pm

Got a Bentley? If you do it will pay for itself right now.

Put in some new points, condensor and plugs. Set them with a dwell meter. Setting those with a feeler gague is for rookies.

Check for vacuum leaks. You are allowed to have a total of NONE or your injection system will not work correctly.

Check your fuel pressure to make sure your pump is putting out the correct amount of pressure at idle and under varying throttle conditions.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=105556

If your fuel filter is munged up or the tank is full of rust, you need to figure that out and fix the problem.

Set your timing with a timing light after adjusting the idle as per your Bentley.

Make sure your Temp Sensor II and O2 sensor are working within Bentley specs, and are having a clean tight connection. You can do that test with your Bentley manual and your volt ohm meter.

Then test out the aux air regualtor to make sure the 1) vacuum hose including the little boot is good and 2) the little door opens and closes like it should, when it should.

Don't spend any real money until you figure out what the problem is. You will have spent a couple of hours and spent less than $30 to figure all of this out.

The ECU rarely goes bad, sometimes the electrical connections do get dirty though (get the "contact cleaning pen from radio shack for $5 for your tool box). Make sure that the parts you buy say "Bosch" on them.

Let us know what happens.

Fri Mar 11, 2005 2:56 pm

A faulty ECU almost always means that the engine will not start or run at all. Do the Bentley thing as previously suggested.

Fri Mar 11, 2005 8:35 pm

My vote is the coil. I had the same problem drive me nuts! Acted like fuel starvation but would start back up after it sat.

Sat Mar 12, 2005 12:46 am

Unfortunately, my financial situation, as of late, will not allow me to act on any of these methods at this time. That is, unless I can get my hands on a voltohmeter (I think my father-in-law has an analog, pocket-size). I don't have the Bentley manuel. I have the Haynes. As for the coil idea. That sounds like a good lead too. Thanks again. I'll print/save all of these posts and get to it when I can. Unless, of course, someone takes her off my hands.

Sat Mar 12, 2005 4:40 pm

I would think a running one would be worth more than a non-running one.

Just a thought....

Mon Mar 14, 2005 10:09 am

Randy in Maine wrote: I would think a running one would be worth more than a non-running one.

Just a thought....

That makes perfect sense to me (and trust me, in an ideal world she'd be running) but i just don't have the resources to do much if anything right now. I like the Home Depot fuel pressure guage though. In fact, my wife just started working there. That's where I'll start for now. If I can, resurect'er I'll consider keeping her. Thanks again.

ps What's the Bentley manuel? Is it the equivalent or supplimental to the factory manuel?

Mon Mar 14, 2005 10:19 am

Yes it is the good one...

http://www.busdepot.com/busdepot/details.jsp?partnumber=BENTLEYVV91

I might buy one so I will actually know something about these vanagons. Might get lucky and socre one on the classifieds here or on e-bay for less.

Mine has paid for itself about 100 times.