TheSamba.com :: View topic - My new 86 weekender and three of her problems

Fri Jul 18, 2008 1:37 pm

Hello everyone!

So here's the van I bought in Nevada and drove out to Colorado.

It's an 86 weekender wolfsburg edition (?) with ~120k miles and three major issues. One strange thing about it is that it has a clock instead of a tach on the instrument cluster. Didn't all 86s have tachs? Anyway,

Problem #1, phantom starting trouble:

I brought her to the emissions testing place where they proceeded to drive the van on to the test rig and hook the thing on the exhaust only to have it die and refuse to start. I then had to push her out of the testing facility where I tried unsuccessfully to start her for about an hour. I had to be elsewhere so I left the van there until that evening when I returned and the van started up no problem. The van has started up many times without problems ever since, even on very hot sunny afternoons much like that ill fated day.

When it wasn't starting the Van had gas and the fuel pump was working and seemed to be pressurizing the line so I assume the problem was no spark. I'd recently replaced the starter and it was cranking the engine vigorously. Also I had been driving it around for about 2 hours prior to this and it started up 3-4 times right away without any problems. Any thoughts on what part of the ignition system decided not to work that afternoon?

Problem #2, double clutching required:

The van needs to be double clutched to avoid grinding of gears when shifting. Any ideas on what part of the transmission I need to fix, and where to get parts?

Problem #3, oil leak:

You can see where the oil is leaking from (i think) in the pic. Is this just the gasket on the oil pan leaking? I figure I can take care of this when I attack the transmission.

Any help/insight would be greatly appreciated.

Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:12 pm

Problem #1: could be bad connection at the fuel injection relays. They're in a black box in the engine compartment, driver's side, up high. Two relays. Next time it won't start try jiggling the relays, moving/squeezing the wires leading into the relay box.

Or disconnect battery, remove relays, make sure the metal prongs (of the female end of the connection, that the relay plugs into) are tight enough to make good contact. Squeeze 'em all together a little then plug the relay back in.

Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:45 pm

Before assuming you have a tranny problem, lift the cowling over the instrument gauge and check the brake fluid reservoir.

Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:05 pm

I agree with Levi, check the hydraulic clutch system. First for fluid (which it shares with the brake system) and then perhaps bleeding it with a power bleeder. Better to spend the $35 or so troubleshooting that system before blowing your discretionary fund on a tranny. The phantom stalling problem, endemic to almost all Vanagons, is the ignition switch. It can keep the car from starting, running, lights work funny, dead relatives talk to you while driving, etc. The leak, invest in some degreaser. Clean the cr@p out of the tranny and engine. Spray it down with the degreaser, then use a spray off place's power washer to clean it up. Afterwords, you should find the source.

Your dying in place can be many things:
As mentioned, the ignition switch
Bad or dying coil (gets worse as the van heats up)
Loose connections to the Hall sender in the dizzy
Poor fuel pressure regulator
Clogged filter or bad fuel pump
Lousy connections and bad grounds
Poor ignition system integrity, plug,s cap, rotor, wires

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Vanagon Protraining Digifant I 86-91.pdf
Vanagon Wiring Diagram.pdf

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Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:26 pm

Quote: Problem #1, phantom starting trouble:

I brought her to the emissions testing place where they proceeded to drive the van on to the test rig and hook the thing on the exhaust only to have it die and refuse to start. I then had to push her out of the testing facility where I tried unsuccessfully to start her for about an hour. I had to be elsewhere so I left the van there until that evening when I returned and the van started up no problem. The van has started up many times without problems ever since, even on very hot sunny afternoons much like that ill fated day.

I had the same problem , you have, I had a hot start problem with the starter, I installed a gear reduction starter on it from Go Westy and I haven't had a problem since...no rhyme no reason on when it wouldn't start...but since the change out it starts like clock work

Fri Jul 18, 2008 3:51 pm

Dogpilot wrote: ..... The phantom stalling problem, endemic to almost all Vanagons, is the ignition switch. It can keep the car from starting, running, lights work funny, dead relatives talk to you while driving, etc.

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Just think... If M. Night was into writing trouble-shooting guides, instead of horror movie rides, we could have more text to keep us up nights. 8)