TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Jul 29, 2024 6:08 pm

Hey everyone,

I'm reaching out to the community because I'm in need of some assistance with my "beloved" 1982 air-cooled gas Vanagon. It's been a great companion over the years, and I'm committed to keeping it running smoothly.

Currently, I'm facing an issue with the distributor. I'm on the lookout for a reputable business or specialist who can rebuild the distributor. Alternatively, I'm open to recommendations for a reliable place where I can purchase a replacement part.

I've already done some basic troubleshooting and maintenance narrowing it down to the distributor. It's getting hung up, and my eng is running hot, my timing keeps changing, and it's running rich but it seems like the distributor needs more attention than I can give it.

If anyone has experience with this type of work or knows a trustworthy shop that specializes in classic VW parts and repairs, I would greatly appreciate your input. Any suggestions on where to find high-quality replacement parts would also be incredibly helpful.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Mon Jul 29, 2024 8:03 pm

There are several people who post ads in the Samba classifieds that can help you out, they also regularly post in the Bay Window Forum. Samba member "heimlich" is one, but there are others as well.

Mon Jul 29, 2024 8:21 pm

Another option would be to purchase a new programmable one from 123ignition.com. No affiliation.

Mon Jul 29, 2024 8:28 pm

There is a company in the UK that have the original shape cast casings and hand build to spec an exact quality copy with an original oval shaped socket. I bought one a while back and 50k later still running strong. Let me know and I will try and find the original bill for their contact.
Are you certain it's the distributor?

Mon Jul 29, 2024 10:40 pm

Wildthings wrote: There are several people who post ads in the Samba classifieds that can help you out, they also regularly post in the Bay Window Forum. Samba member "heimlich" is one, but there are others as well.

ok I'll check into that, thanks.

Mon Jul 29, 2024 10:45 pm

MarkWard wrote: Another option would be to purchase a new programmable one from 123ignition.com. No affiliation.

I saw you mention 123 before. do you have one? these look cool. I'm a little worried about the wiring.
thanks fro the info

Mon Jul 29, 2024 10:51 pm

Nitramrebrab72 wrote: There is a company in the UK that have the original shape cast casings and hand build to spec an exact quality copy with an original oval shaped socket. I bought one a while back and 50k later still running strong. Let me know and I will try and find the original bill for their contact.
Are you certain it's the distributor?

oh wow, I would love to know the company, please.
it is running rich, and a little sluggish/not taking the gas when putting the pedal down. I have to feather it to go. the timing kept changing and thought it would be the air box but we had 2 others we put on and it still was having the same problem. it kinda points to the distributor. hopefully.

any thoughts?
thanks

Tue Jul 30, 2024 5:16 am

I had a BMW 2002 in the shop that had one. I needed to contact support because the owner had miswired it in and damaged it. They had me send it in for repair and fixed it no charge. This one had the Bluetooth tuning feature. Pretty amazing being able to program a timing curve from my phone.

Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:15 am

reach out to Bill at Sparkwerks:

https://www.sparxwerks.com/

he'll get you dialed in

Tue Jul 30, 2024 3:00 pm

leminem88 wrote: Nitramrebrab72 wrote: There is a company in the UK that have the original shape cast casings and hand build to spec an exact quality copy with an original oval shaped socket. I bought one a while back and 50k later still running strong. Let me know and I will try and find the original bill for their contact.
Are you certain it's the distributor?

oh wow, I would love to know the company, please.
it is running rich, and a little sluggish/not taking the gas when putting the pedal down. I have to feather it to go. the timing kept changing and thought it would be the air box but we had 2 others we put on and it still was having the same problem. it kinda points to the distributor. hopefully.

any thoughts?
thanks

[email protected]

Did it suddenly start happening?
How did you determine it's running rich ?.
What kind of carburation do you have? FI or carbs?
Remember timing will change at different rpms and different vacuum/ loads.

Tue Jul 30, 2024 8:09 pm

I use Genuine Bosch electronics to rebuild the hall sensors. I have a distributor testing machine I spin them on to test them.

1.9L:
https://www.vwnos.com/025-905-205-d
https://www.vwnos.com/025-905-205-k

2.0L: https://www.vwnos.com/039-905-205-c
2.1L: https://www.vwnos.com/9-237-040-023

Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:42 pm

heimlich wrote: I use Genuine Bosch electronics to rebuild the hall sensors. I have a distributor testing machine I spin them on to test them.

1.9L:
https://www.vwnos.com/025-905-205-d
https://www.vwnos.com/025-905-205-k

2.0L: https://www.vwnos.com/039-905-205-c
2.1L: https://www.vwnos.com/9-237-040-023

thanks, I will be sending you mine soon.

Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:50 pm

skills@eurocarsplus wrote: reach out to Bill at Sparkwerks:

https://www.sparxwerks.com/

he'll get you dialed in

thanks, I'll check it out

Tue Jul 30, 2024 9:55 pm

Nitramrebrab72 wrote: leminem88 wrote: Nitramrebrab72 wrote: There is a company in the UK that have the original shape cast casings and hand build to spec an exact quality copy with an original oval shaped socket. I bought one a while back and 50k later still running strong. Let me know and I will try and find the original bill for their contact.
Are you certain it's the distributor?

oh wow, I would love to know the company, please.
it is running rich, and a little sluggish/not taking the gas when putting the pedal down. I have to feather it to go. the timing kept changing and thought it would be the air box but we had 2 others we put on and it still was having the same problem. it kinda points to the distributor. hopefully.

any thoughts?
thanks

[email protected]

Did it suddenly start happening?
How did you determine it's running rich ?.
What kind of carburation do you have? FI or carbs?
Remember timing will change at different rpms and different vacuum/ loads.

I purchased a rebuild 2.0, drove it from Cali to Den, and lifter spring on #4 broke on the way back but me or the shop I towed it to didnt catch it until I got it back to Cali. I had the eng rebuilt and saw a lot of build-up in it (running rich). I then replaced the air box, injectors, and all the things just not the distributor. its FI. now you can smell it rich. hopefully, this will be the key. don't think the distributor is rotating freely.

Tue Jul 30, 2024 10:08 pm

Anything that causes a misfire will be interpreted by the O2 sensor as a lean condition and the ECU will dump in more fuel in an attempt to correct the mixture. If this is the problem, turning the key off and back on will fix the problem for 15 seconds or so. Unplugging the O2 sensor will provide limp home drivability.

Wed Jul 31, 2024 5:01 am

skills@eurocarsplus wrote: reach out to Bill at Sparkwerks:

https://www.sparxwerks.com/

he'll get you dialed in

Bill is my first choice, but an 82 may have California spec FI, with the hall sender and electronic ignition, heimlich does those. If its a SVDA with point, Bill 100%.

123 has 3 wires and hooks up like a stock distributor and runs off an app, highly recommend also. You can make multiple tunes, and set one as a “no spark no start” for theft prevention.

Wed Jul 31, 2024 6:55 pm

Wildthings wrote: Anything that causes a misfire will be interpreted by the O2 sensor as a lean condition and the ECU will dump in more fuel in an attempt to correct the mixture. If this is the problem, turning the key off and back on will fix the problem for 15 seconds or so. Unplugging the O2 sensor will provide limp home drivability.

nice hack, that's going in the mental toolbox.

Wed Jul 31, 2024 6:56 pm

Synergy Solutions wrote: skills@eurocarsplus wrote: reach out to Bill at Sparkwerks:

https://www.sparxwerks.com/

he'll get you dialed in

Bill is my first choice, but an 82 may have California spec FI, with the hall sender and electronic ignition, heimlich does those. If its a SVDA with point, Bill 100%.

123 has 3 wires and hooks up like a stock distributor and runs off an app, highly recommend also. You can make multiple tunes, and set one as a “no spark no start” for theft prevention.

ohhh that sounds nice, I need theft prevention. what these bad boys going for $1K??

Wed Jul 31, 2024 7:00 pm

123ignition.com

Wed Jul 31, 2024 7:25 pm

Synergy Solutions wrote: skills@eurocarsplus wrote: reach out to Bill at Sparkwerks:

https://www.sparxwerks.com/

he'll get you dialed in

Bill is my first choice, but an 82 may have California spec FI, with the hall sender and electronic ignition, heimlich does those. If its a SVDA with point, Bill 100%.

Bill does both Air Cooled and Water Cooled Vanagon distributors with Hall effect.