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Mon Jul 25, 2022 4:01 pm

Abscate wrote:
Everyone’s please add nitrile gloves to your toolbox. You don’t want all those solvents and oil/ gas accumulating in your body and your skin will also thank you

Yes, all the years of using gasoline to clean parts, siphoning gas with your mouth, using carb cleaner in a gallon dip can, moping up JP-5 spills in the Navy....all without any gloves. I will reach 70 this year and am grateful. I hope all the carcinogenic compounds that my skin endured won't cut too many years off the rest of my life.

Sat Jul 30, 2022 10:05 am

In case anyone is interested in a Side Tent alternative, here's one I found on sale at REI:

Can't wait to try it out sometime soon.... other than in my garage...

https://www.rei.com/product/187881/rightline-gear-suv-tent

Sun Jul 31, 2022 6:21 pm

You'll want to add some tabs to the top of the extension that runs up to the bus door, and put a short pole that runs from the top of the middle pole to the bus, to create a roof peak in the tent fabric. The way it is in that photo any rain will pool and weigh the whole extension down, trying to pull it away from the bus, and flood into the floor of the tent.

Sun Aug 14, 2022 5:33 am

An unusual thing happened Friday while driving Chloe...

I was driving about 65mph on the freeway when the engine started to miss every once in a while. Then within a minute, it started missing more. Next, she started bucking and slowing down even though the gas pedal was to the floor.
Finally, she stalled and wouldn't start unless she sat for about five minutes.

Then she started up like normal and drove fine up to about 40mph. Above 40, the missing, bucking and stalling sequence would occur again.

We on our way to go camping for the weekend but decided to turn around and head back home using back roads where we didn't have to go above 40. And during the two-hour slow drive home (which turned into a beautiful drive) everything worked as normal.

The fuel pump was replaced about 750 miles ago and worked fine during our trip to Carlsbad Caverns.

My guess is the problem is caused by low fuel pressure at higher speeds. And the culprit is probably either by the fuel pump, the fuel pressure regulator or an obstruction in a fuel line.

I would check the fuel pressure, but I loaned out my test gauge a few months ago and neglected to get it back.

The current plan is to replace the fuel lines (which is due anyway) and the fuel pump. And I believe I have another FPR, but am going to swap that out later if the fuel pump and line replacement doesn't solve the problem

Does anyone have any suggestions on what else may be causing this problem?

Sun Aug 14, 2022 6:32 am

Sounds like a fuel flow issue to me. How's the tank outlet, could there be a restriction? Or a plugged filter?

I had something similar happen last year and it was caused by debris in the tank. I think I went through 3 filters before pulling the tank and I found about a cup of what resembled coffee grounds, which I believe was a the tank "sealant" the shop used a decade ago.

Our experience with was almost exactly the same.

I'm sure it's an easy fix!

Sun Aug 14, 2022 7:36 am

Thanks Mikewire. I hope it's an easy fix too.

The tank came out in 2017 and was in good clean condition then.
The filter gets swapped out every other oil change, and has never shown evidence of any debris.
Crossing fingers the tank doesn't have to come out again.

Albuquerque is lucky to have its own VW parts store, Foreign Aide.
Super helpful and knowledgeable people running it, too.

Sun Aug 14, 2022 7:47 am

Maybe you should also check the distributor and the points, or Petronix if you have one of those.

Sun Aug 14, 2022 7:49 am

richparker wrote: Maybe you should also check the distributor and the points, or Petronix if you have one of those.
Good idea, Rich. I'll do those too. Have to buy a new timing light first, though.
It's always something, ain't it? :lol:

Sun Aug 14, 2022 8:16 am

Consider adding replacement of the condenser to the list. My 71 Westphalia exhibited very similar symptoms. Troubleshooting led me to replace the Bosch Made In Spain condenser with the original Bosch Made In Germany condenser which had been relegated to "retired / spare" status - and The VW Bus was happy once again :)

Sun Aug 14, 2022 8:22 am

My buddy had a similar issue in his daily driver 78. He replaced the fuel pump and all was good for 500 miles. Then the issue returned. Turned out to be kinked/pinched fuel line that he didn’t notice. When he replaced the pump he unknowingly fixed the kinked hose.
When it happened the second time he could see it pinched/kinked. May not be your issue but easy enough to check out.

As Rich stated. I had a Pertronix flame thrower “Electronic” distributor in the 76 FI bus. Replacing with OEM rebuild from Bill solved that problem. Not telling you to open up the parts cannon.

What ignition/distributor set up are you running?

Sun Aug 14, 2022 8:56 am

my ‘78 has suffered from “intermittent-missing disease” for years. drives great for miles and miles, then misses for a while. sometimes it has bucked and hesitated to the point of being undriveable, but mostly has just missed.

recently it began to stall. mostly restarting right away, but sometimes took a coupla minutes. the fuel pressure tested okay while running, but zero right after it stalled.

i replaced the filter. tried a new pump. then, replaced the fuel pressure regulator. it hasn’t stalled since. (pm me, kent, about finding a new fpr, if you’re interested.)

the “intermittent-missing disease” has persisted though. last week i tested the coil. no continuity between #15 and #4. what?! replaced the coil, but it hasn’t been enough miles to know whether the disease is cured or not. i will post in a new thread after my fishing trip to mammoth week after next.

Sun Aug 14, 2022 8:57 am

Thanks vwmerckx. I'll replace that too. Lots to do!
Last time I was at Napa, I bought 6 sets of points n condensers. Should last me for a while!

Hiya Xevin!
The distributor is also a Bill's rebuild from 2019 and has been running great. And still using points n condenser.
Good point about the kinked fuel line. I wonder why his van/bus ran well for 500 miles before having the problem.

Sun Aug 14, 2022 9:18 am

Hello Kent: I had performed all the "obvious" trouble shooting I could think of - one at time - least as Xevin said - opening up the parts canon :)

Sun Aug 14, 2022 10:06 am

KentABQ wrote:
Good point about the kinked fuel line. I wonder why his van/bus ran well for 500 miles before having the problem.

If I remember correctly, I believe he had a little extra fuel line and the way he had plumbed it created a weak spot in the hose he was using. He said it was not obvious. Plus his pump was getting louder. It was probably starving. He tossed a different pump from his stash and all was good temporarily. That’s when he noticed the the pinched hose. He probably just straighten out the hose while he installed the second pump and the hose kinked up on itself slowly over time. That was his guess.

Also on the 72 I had slight bucking that got worse after 40 miles. On the side of the road I used the abrasive part of a match book to clean the copper bits inside the distributor. Worked perfectly. Pulled over to the local flaps and replaced distributor cap.

As stated above. One thing at a time. You know this already :D

Sun Aug 14, 2022 9:09 pm

KentABQ wrote: I was driving about 65mph on the freeway when the engine started to miss every once in a while. Then within a minute, it started missing more. Next, she started bucking and slowing down even though the gas pedal was to the floor.
Finally, she stalled and wouldn't start unless she sat for about five minutes.

Had this problem coming across South Dakota years ago. I assumed it was bad fuel or the lines. Took it to a mechanic shop that knew almost nothing about VWs and turns out it was the condensor. He had it fixed in 2 hours of shop time, mostly diagnostic and time spent looking for the condensor.

I always have a spare in the glove box now.

Sat Sep 17, 2022 4:50 pm

Thanks for everyone's input into solving this problem.

vwmerckx wrote: Consider adding replacement of the condenser to the list.
richparker wrote: Maybe you should also check the distributor and the points, or Petronix if you have one of those.
While I had assumed a fuel delivery issue, it turned out richparker and vwmerckx had the right answer!
Replacing the points and condenser has got Chloe back on the road and running great again.

Tue Nov 01, 2022 6:46 am

It's amazing how the kids and neighbors love seeing Chloe all decked out for Halloween. Several parents wanted pictures of their kids with her.

We had a blast, and not just because we had drinks flowing all night...

Sun Mar 19, 2023 5:47 am

In January of 2017, I bought Vanagon seats and seat tracks to replace the original seats. (I know... blasphemy!) And I kind of half-assed the driver's seat tracks using some nuts and bolts I had on hand. The passenger seat seemed to comfortably wedge itself into place, so I just left the two seats like that for the past six years.

In the meantime, I bought a MIG welder, planning on welding the tracks in place. But there wasn't a flat surface to weld them, so it was on to Plan B: 1/4" stainless steel bolts, nuts, washers and rubber washers. It took two days of measuring, adjusting, leveling, shimming and swearing but the seats are finally in place! And, dayum! it's nice to be able to adjust them forward and backward, and recline them slightly.

Sun Mar 19, 2023 7:38 am

Clever Kent. Maybe post a picture for others to see. I thought you and I discussed building up the left track to match the height of the right track?
We used some leaf springs lying around to build up the track height. If you zoom in you can see the leafs tacked together under the track. On the left side of the car.

Sun Mar 19, 2023 3:10 pm

Xevin wrote: Clever Kent. Maybe post a picture for others to see. I thought you and I discussed building up the left track to match the height of the right track?
Taking pictures while I was doing the work would have been a good idea.
But I'm out of the habit of taking pictures to post on the Samba.

When the seats were out, I was able to lay a level across the base, and it was surprisingly level side to side. But fore and aft required shimming to level the tracks, mainly on the passenger side.