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Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:26 am

Alright If you happened to see post that I had a few days ago you know that I just resurrected my 85 Vanagon after two weeks of sitting and not starting. So now it runs, even quieter than before, but acceleration is terrible. The engine will not rev up over 3000 rpm in any gear and there is frequent little hickups above 2000 rpm, not bucking though. (Before I had problems it was accelearating up to between 3000 and 4000 rpm no problem). So I have checked FP and it is about 40 PSI without the FPR connected and between 30-35 PSI with FPR connected. I do notice a hissing sound when driving, similar to driving through the woods with wind blowing through leaves except I look and no trees around. Engine temp is fine at about 1/2 to 3/4 on the gauge. So my thought is vacuum leak somewhere, I just found a cut in the little boot going to the Aux Air Reg and sealed that with the electric tape. Do you guys think I'm on the right track with VAC leak somewhere, all the hoses for VAC seem to be worn so I would probably just replace it all to be more confident with it. Also, is it safe to run the van on short errands when its doing this? I dont want to let it sit for without driving it for any period of time if I dont have to. Thanks for all your help!!

Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:48 am

You are on the right track. electrical tape won't hold you have to replace the hose. If you found one bad hose I'd go through them all, not just look at them, but take them off and bend them. what you are describing could just be a vac leak, It is time consuming but you need to verifiy that all vac hoses are good, or you could be spending money on parts that you don't need.

Thu Jul 28, 2005 2:01 pm

Art, that reminds me, some of my vac lines (read: the ones coming off the aux air regulator) are seriously cracked, and hence wrapped with elect. tape :oops: . any idea of where to get them, or can i just use some braided line? the ones there now look like they were made to go there, elbows and such.

Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:12 pm

I bought that hose at Bus Depot (the 12 mm) for the AAR and the 90* there also.

Thu Jul 28, 2005 4:03 pm

bus depot like Randy said, bus-boys.com is a good place. there website can be easier to use to.
http://www.bus-boys.com/bb13383.htm#hose

Thu Jul 28, 2005 4:57 pm

Just a note: even for those who have replaced the AAR elbow recently, keep an eye on it. The plastic used in the replacement part (at least the ones I've seen) is of remarkably poor quality. I had one split after only one year's service.

Of course, when I went to troubleshoot the resumption of the bucking and missing, I initially discounted this item as the culprit, because I had so recently replaced it... :?

Live and learn, I guess

Fri Jul 29, 2005 2:42 am

myendaba wrote: I do notice a hissing sound when driving, similar to driving through the woods with wind blowing through leaves except I look and no trees around.

Can you hear this hiss from the drivers seat with the windows down or up? If windows down, could it be exhaust trying to find a way out other than the tail pipe? How much exhaust pressure do you have at the tail pipe? Maybe unrelated to the initial problem, but could there now be an exhaust clog. An exhaust brake is a good way to limit engine rpm's.

Fri Jul 29, 2005 10:08 am

Well, I dont know how to test exhaust pressure with just every day equipment. My mechanic told me that whenever looking at an older used car, use the trick where you hold a dollar bill at the exhaust pipe and see if air is going out strong or slightly coming in. But that brings an intresting question. So when I pulled out the air filter setup to look at all of those hidden VAC hoses and the S-boot is sitting there open to the world air is going in but intermitently air comes out, is this scarry or just normal when the pistons are going through their cycles?

Fri Jul 29, 2005 10:12 am

Air comes out ??? :shock:

Fri Jul 29, 2005 3:09 pm

alright, :idea: that air coming out must have been a fluke, not doing that anymore.

Sun Jul 31, 2005 6:03 pm

8) 8) Well, just wanted to let you all know the Van is cruising again. The culprit was this little vacuum hose that I think went from the manifold to the distributor. Dont know how or why but now problem is solved. I just patched it up with some elec. tape, :oops: its only temporary till I get some hose at the store. Pretty much all of the four or five small hoses are brittle and ready to rupture, so I think I replace them. thanks all!!!
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