TheSamba.com :: View topic - Miami to Alaska Road Trip www.marcandeliana.com

Sun Jul 06, 2008 10:41 pm

"fuel infection" is what you call fuel injection that has its problems...

Mon Jul 07, 2008 2:06 pm

Thank you SO much to everyone that has offered us a place to camp at. We really appreciate it and will take you on that offer. ;o)

Keep checking the site, there are some funny and interesting stories regarding Valentina. ;o)

http://www.marcandeliana.com

Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:40 am

Broke down so many times in the last week, so far 3 mechanics have seen her and lots of money spend--is the problem fixed? NO!! Arggg

I think this trip might be coming to an end! ;o(

Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:42 am

1. Where are you currently?

2. What issues are you having?

Chances are someone is close to you and can help.

Mon Jul 14, 2008 10:49 am

EZ Gruv wrote: 1. Where are you currently?

2. What issues are you having?

Chances are someone is close to you and can help.

We are currently in Missoula, Montana. She is being checked by another bus mechanic today.

We have met a very nice couple here in Missoula, they also own a bus. This is what he wrote in another forum. I am sure he can explain it better than I can.

-----------
So these guys:
http://www.marcandeliana.com
...are here and have been having problems.
First: the bus started to get crappier mileage (down to the mid teens from low twenties) some couple thousand miles back.
Second: the bus is harder and harder to start, eventually not starting even on a push start.
Third: the bus is a real slug up grades (25mph) and eventually on flats (55mph). This is no longer a problem (see below).

Fixes attempted:
it has had its idle mixture and fuel/air mixture screws screwed with by a mechanic in Georgia who was trying to solve its hard starting problems, though mileage and power suffered (see above);
it has had a new starter installed by a mechanic who also timed it for elevation (it was last tuned at 0' in Miami) and put in new points. This pretty much solved the sluggishness;
it has had a new coil installed by a mechanic who also said the dwell was off and adjusted accordingly;
it has had new points and condenser installed by yours truly, though not at exactly the same time (points preceded condenser by ~75 miles). I replaced the points because the bus suddenly lost all power after which I looked at the points. The little nylon rider had collapsed altogether, and lacking the intestinal fortitude to do so in field conditions without an offset screwdriver, I did not replace the condenser also. After a couple days of camping, the bus did not start so I suspected and replaced the condenser. I also timed the bus to 7.5* BTDC, but without first having adjusted the idle etc. The bus started and ran fine for ~200 miles thereafter, though with poor mileage (ca. 16mpg).

I'm sending them to a gen-yoo-wine VW mechanic this week. I want this to be the last time they have to go to one. What should I tell the mechanic? Any thoughts?
--------

This is so frustrating. We have seen 6 mechanics in the last 2 months, and have spent over $4000. I don't understand much of this, but I just can't believe that the issue has not been fixed yet.

Thanks for your input.

Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:00 am

Too bad you're not further toward the west coast already. Colin (Amskeptic) is on his mobile maintenance tour out this way and would have you up and running in a jiffy.

You would really do better to meet up with folks on this site who live near where you are traveling. In my opinion, even a novice bus mechanic is better than an SAE certified generalist. There are NO industry classes on our type of engines available to them. It's not their fault, but they simply have no idea where to start when troubleshooting your issues. You can also check out http://www.itinerant-air-cooled.com/ The engineering knowledge amongst the members there is pretty high. It's also the site ran by Amskeptic.

Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:05 am

dreadnotmusic wrote: Too bad you're not further toward the west coast already. Colin (Amskeptic) is on his mobile maintenance tour out this way and would have you up and running in a jiffy.

You would really do better to meet up with folks on this site who live near where you are traveling. In my opinion, even a novice bus mechanic is better than an SAE certified generalist. There are NO industry classes on our type of engines available to them. It's not their fault, but they simply have no idea where to start when troubleshooting your issues. You can also check out http://www.itinerant-air-cooled.com/ The engineering knowledge amongst the members there is pretty high. It's also the site ran by Amskeptic.

We would have loved to have met Colin, the couple that has helped us a LOT here in Missoula met with him a couple of weeks ago. I have actually spoken with him a couple of times via email.

This site and AIRS has really helped out, we have met great people willing to give us lots of help. Just joined http://www.itinerant-air-cooled.com/ and it seems to be another amazing group. ;o)

Thanks for your comment and suggestions.

http://www.marcandeliana.com

Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:57 am

I suspect a lot of your problems would have been solved if anyone had done a full diagnostic right off the bat. Unfortunately people avoid doing so, instead taking fairly blind stabs at what is wrong. I have to include myself in with the bunch. Way to easy to say it is part "X" than to pull out the meter and spending 15 minutes finding out what it really is.

By now so many people have touched it they have probably created extra problems. If no one has done a full diagnostic according to the Bentley, the time is still right.

If you turn west into Washington or Oregon the number of people current on Bay engines is going to skyrocket, as it the availability of parts.

If you haven't done it by now dump some Lucas FI cleaner into the gas. This will fix a lot of ills and is very cheap.

Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:05 pm

Wildthings wrote: I suspect a lot of your problems would have been solved if anyone had done a full diagnostic right off the bat. Unfortunately people avoid doing so, instead taking fairly blind stabs at what is wrong. I have to include myself in with the bunch. Way to easy to say it is part "X" than to pull out the meter and spending 15 minutes finding out what it really is.

By now so many people have touched it they have probably created extra problems. If no one has done a full diagnostic according to the Bentley, the time is still right.

If you turn west into Washington or Oregon the number of people current on Bay engines is going to skyrocket, as it the availability of parts.

If you haven't done it by now dump some Lucas FI cleaner into the gas. This will fix a lot of ills and is very cheap.

We already added that cleaner to the gas. BTW, what gas do you suggest we should use? We have been using 91 octane, but it is SO expensive!!

When we first got her, we took her to a mechanic in Miami and told him to do a complete diagnostic on her and fix whatever needed to be fixed. The bus was in the shop for 1 month and $3400 later we are still having SO many problems. arrgggg

Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:23 pm

Particularly at higher elevation your shouldn't need anything but regular. If you hear audible light pinging or heavier knocking then you need higher octane gas. Have never run anything but regular myself.

Can't imagine what someone could have done to a bus engine in the way of a tune up that would have cost $3400. :x

Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:26 pm

Wildthings wrote: Particularly at higher elevation your shouldn't need anything but regular. If you hear audible light pinging or heavier knocking then you need higher octane gas. Have never run anything but regular myself.

Can't imagine what someone could have done to a bus engine in the way of a tune up that would have cost $3400. :x

The $3400 also included breaks, and boots (I believe that is what its called) and other things...I had hoped that after all that money the bus would be running smoothly. I am very frustrated!

Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:26 pm

VWBUSchick wrote: Wildthings wrote: I suspect a lot of your problems would have been solved if anyone had done a full diagnostic right off the bat. Unfortunately people avoid doing so, instead taking fairly blind stabs at what is wrong. I have to include myself in with the bunch. Way to easy to say it is part "X" than to pull out the meter and spending 15 minutes finding out what it really is.

By now so many people have touched it they have probably created extra problems. If no one has done a full diagnostic according to the Bentley, the time is still right.

If you turn west into Washington or Oregon the number of people current on Bay engines is going to skyrocket, as it the availability of parts.

If you haven't done it by now dump some Lucas FI cleaner into the gas. This will fix a lot of ills and is very cheap.

We already added that cleaner to the gas. BTW, what gas do you suggest we should use? We have been using 91 octane, but it is SO expensive!!

When we first got her, we took her to a mechanic in Miami and told him to do a complete diagnostic on her and fix whatever needed to be fixed. The bus was in the shop for 1 month and $3400 later we are still having SO many problems. arrgggg

Mechanic in Miami :roll: When I think of Miami I dont think of air cooled VW's :shock: For $3,400 you could get a brand new engine. Get the proplems fixed on the west coast were aircooled's are not such a rarity. Have a safe trip.

Mon Jul 14, 2008 12:33 pm

Dead 1 wrote: VWBUSchick wrote: Wildthings wrote: I suspect a lot of your problems would have been solved if anyone had done a full diagnostic right off the bat. Unfortunately people avoid doing so, instead taking fairly blind stabs at what is wrong. I have to include myself in with the bunch. Way to easy to say it is part "X" than to pull out the meter and spending 15 minutes finding out what it really is.

By now so many people have touched it they have probably created extra problems. If no one has done a full diagnostic according to the Bentley, the time is still right.

If you turn west into Washington or Oregon the number of people current on Bay engines is going to skyrocket, as it the availability of parts.

If you haven't done it by now dump some Lucas FI cleaner into the gas. This will fix a lot of ills and is very cheap.

We already added that cleaner to the gas. BTW, what gas do you suggest we should use? We have been using 91 octane, but it is SO expensive!!

When we first got her, we took her to a mechanic in Miami and told him to do a complete diagnostic on her and fix whatever needed to be fixed. The bus was in the shop for 1 month and $3400 later we are still having SO many problems. arrgggg

Mechanic in Miami :roll: When I think of Miami I dont think of air cooled VW's :shock: For $3,400 you could get a brand new engine. Get the proplems fixed on the west coast were aircooled's are not such a rarity. Have a safe trip.

We had hoped that by taking it to a mechanic specializing in these types of buses and Vanagons that all the problems would have gotten fixed. I know that the West coast is the best place to find people that truly know and care.

Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:05 pm

Hey!

As I always post - certified 30 yr mechanic who KNOWS VW Busses don't exist - or are such a rarity - that should you find one (Colin) you should hold on to them for dear life!

That being said - it sounds like you could do a diagnostic yourself. Here's what you need.

Fuel Pressure Tester
Compression Guage
Vacuum Guage
Ohm Meter.

Check to see Fuel Pressure is around 38psi.
Check to see if your compression is around 90-110 or so. All cylinders should be within 10% of each other. Anything lower than 90 indicates a problem.
Vacuum Guage - check vacuum pressure (forget the correct readings).
Check various FI components - ie Temp Sensor II etc.

If anything is off...compression - fuel - vacuum - or ohm readings on the temp sensor - there is a problem. Rarely do other things go wrong. Were your injectors inspected prior to leaving? You may have a faulty injector or injectors.

I'd sugest - along with the others - heading to washington or somewhere on the coast - and ask around for the BEST Type IV mechanic around...aside from colin that is. LOL

Mon Jul 14, 2008 2:14 pm

Dead 1 wrote: Mechanic in Miami :roll: When I think of Miami I dont think of air cooled VW's :shock: For $3,400 you could get a brand new engine. Get the proplems fixed on the west coast were aircooled's are not such a rarity. Have a safe trip.

You should really rethink Miami then. There's plenty of us down here and we drive our air cooled VWs all year long thank you. Sweeping generalizations of an entire city based on one mechanic is bullshit.

Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:10 pm

I feel terrrible for you guys. I've been following the trip on your web site. If you want to dump the points and condensor, I have a spare pertronix electronic ignition that I can lend to you for the remainder of your trip. I'll mail it for free, if you mail it back when you get home. PM me if you're interested and I'll send it off ASAP.

Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:42 pm

as I said before, I am just waiting for you to get near Seattle so I can help.

I don't have the time to zip over to Montana even if you paid me... but if you get close or to Seattle I can help..

Dump the points!!

Pertronix I have sitting on the shelf...
LM1 Meter is sitting here waiting to dial in your AFR right!
I have some spare parts but I am not a guy with tons of old VW bus parts laying around...now if you want 914 parts thats a different story.

If you detour to here I can help you get her running right, its not that hard unless one of these so called Mechanix really screwed up something...and it sounds like its running WAY FREAKIN RICH. So thats clogged up the combustion chamber with carbon.

I thought Ljet automatically compensated for altitude changes? Djet sure does.... so timing changes for altitude make no sense to me. As you go higher the air is thinner so the mix needs to be leaner.

I look at your website for updates daily, and shake my head at the money these guys are charging you...for nuthin.

Geoff

PM me for my cell if you want phone help.

Oh, if you come to this area you must camp at Mt Rainier National Park at the Ohanapecosh Camp ground...has a great river to swim in, tall trees, easy hikes, waterfalls and its where I camp every year for 25 yrs..

http://www.nps.gov/mora/photosmultimedia/photogallery.htm?eid=140485&root_aId=239#e_140485

Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:34 pm

Go see Bleyseng!!!! He knows what he's doing!

Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:37 pm

And for god sakes don't give up on the trip. Shit happens... Fix it and keep on moving. Part of being a bus pilot.

Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:48 pm

Come on over, the weather has been awesome! I have a couple places you could crash either here in Bellingham or over on the Olympic Peninsula (Port Angeles, Sequim area). You are more than welcome, both areas are beautiful.