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Sun Jun 01, 2003 7:02 pm

We are halfway through the Great American Car Trip! We made the trip from Georgia to Monterey, CA in our '77 Westy with many adventures and some mechanical challenges. The last two days of the trip we had problems with the bus engine cutting off and refusing to run.
The first time it cut out we were wrapping up the trip for the day, having just come across a stretch of desert east of Barstow, CA. We had tried to baby the engine earlier in the heat of the day (frequent long rests in the shade), but now it was twilight and we thought we wouldn't need to worry about overheating. As we were going down the road just 10 minutes after a break, the engine started to cut off, surged, then cut out. No amount of cranking would restart the engine. The motor turned over, but the engine wouldn't run.
We put gas in thinking we had cut things too close on mileage, but the bus wouldn't run. Had the bus towed to Barstow and the next morning, he cranked up just fine. So we headed on.
The next day after going about 250 miles, we were headed into Monterey, just 5 miles away on hwy 68 when we had to stop for a traffic light. Again, we gave the bus frequent breaks during the heat of the day, but we were almost done with our trip and it was very cool outside, so we weren't worried about overheating him. But when we stopped at the light, the bus stalled. Wouldn't start.. Husband checked various hoses, connections, etc , but bus would turn over but not run. Had him towed to Monterey.
Thought maybe he would just start up (as before) after he had a rest. He sat for a day and a half and now we can crank him and he starts, but cuts out after a few minutes. Seems to do OK if you rev up the engine. Putting out a fair amount of smoke from someplace under the engine (not coming out the tailpipe).
We are in Monterey until Friday. There are several VW mechanics listed in the phone book, but of course we don't know any of them. We had hoped to find someone here to adjust the valves and have a look over the bus in general.
Is there something we can do to get the bus going?

Sun Jun 01, 2003 9:39 pm

I would check your coil, they hardly ever go bad but could be the culprit. Check all of your ignition system first then check the coil. Remove the HT cable from the coil to distribitor from the center of the cap, go and turn the ignition on, get some insulated pliers and hold the end of the wire lead around a 1/2 inch or so from the cylinder block and turn the engine with starter, it should give you a spark. If you have a voltmeter check the volts at the terminal 15, it supposed to be 9 volts. Readings should be zero with points closed and read something when they are open. It might still show good readings when cold though. Then when running hot are high rpms poop out on you again. Have you checked your fuel system, filters, I sucked up bad gas around that same area passing through Barstow those small towns and had to do a roadside carb rebuild, from the sand even getting passed the filters. Also try pushing down on the accelerator slow to the floor, then keep it there before starting the engine after running it for long times. This will keep you from flooding the hot engine with too much fuel. Check all your wire connections to make sure they are all attached and not just laying there making contact every so often. Check all your intake fittings to make sure they are all good and sealed and same with exhaust, might find your smoke problem. Hope this helps a little. Good luck on your trip!!! Anthony