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The Raven
Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2011
Posts: 303
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 Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 10:13 am Post subject: High MPG, odd idle issues, and a thank you. 85 1.9 |
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First off thank you for everyone who helped me here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=484212
Turned out that a cleaning of the grounds and an additional ground on the alt helped charge the battery well.
Now for my next question;
I filled up today, 10 gallons. My odo indicated 127mi, corrected via known landmarks my real miles were about 145. So my van is getting about 14mpg.
This seems VERY low. Were do I start in addressing this oddly low MPG? I believe the O2 is new.
A few symptoms that may be related;
-High idle after an extended run
-Misses occasionally at idle after an extended run.
-Slightly difficult to start as in it takes a few revolutions.
-The engine occasionally on warm up when idling at 1200rpm will cut out, catch, cut out catch
-All of the above stop when shut off and restarted.
Thoughts?  |
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r39o
Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005
Posts: 9800
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 11:17 am Post subject: |
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Your mileage is off. BUT, not totally out of the ballpark.
Via the FAQ: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=136963
Based on your symptoms you could have several things:
Intake leak
Bad or slow O2 sensor. Cheap one via the FAQ: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1796710
Wrong / old / misgapped spark plugs
In other words you need to go over your tune up basics
Usually we start with a new Sensor II and O2 sensor to get the process started
Then add to that tire pressure.
Plus your speed / driving habits have a lot to do with it too.
"It's an old car, what do you expect?" My dad "The Master."
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bjrogers86auto
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2009
Posts: 1375
Location: Halifax, N.S.
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| Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 11:25 am Post subject: mpg |
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I think if you check Ben's site...benplace.com...he has an article on 1.9 idle and timing. I think the basic idea is that as the grounds get bad people adjust the timing to improve idle and mess with the idle screw. Once your grounds are functioning properly you need to put things back to normal.
My brother-in-law had a similar issue with his. This was the problem.
Brian.
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A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day. Calvin and Hobbes. |
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The Raven
Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2011
Posts: 303
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| Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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Ok,
This week I'll address and clean up all the grounds I can find. Although the guy I bought it from was an old school VW tech through and through I feel as though he had a habit of just letting things slide due to things I have found (power steering bolts, O2 Grommet, etc etc.) As this was his van I think he just got used to seeing minor things wrong and never investigated fully. He did rebuild the engine last winter, and it runs while going great, passing in performance my 97 jeep and making me wonder why people complain about these things power. It is however plagued by these little things and they just need to be sorted out I guess. This thing has so many vac hoses, many with a putty on them to prevent leaks (guessing there must have been a leak somewhere). I would love to get a set of new vac lines and just put the engine back to stock and start fresh. In any case, step by step.
Plan of action:
-Pull out the bentleys and pin out the sensors, clean up ALL grounds and access the running conditions after that. |
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heidi85ho
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2009
Posts: 298
Location: Williamsburg,Virginia
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:42 am Post subject: |
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| If you can see "patches" on your vac lines, that would be the first things to replace. Vac lines are cheap. |
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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 17100
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:01 am Post subject: |
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| passing in performance my 97 jeep |
Leaning on the engine will use more fuel. Try using a lighter foot and the things mentioned above.
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The Raven
Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2011
Posts: 303
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 11:53 am Post subject: |
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OK,
Today I went out and put new terminals on all the grounds that had even the closest doubt in my mind of being compromised. I cleaned up the O2 connector as it was a bit oxidized. I also tested sensor 2 and it's fine.
The problem did not go away. So....
-I disconnected the green idle box and plugged the connectors together and the idle dropped to 800 and kept dipping lower to an almost stall before recovering.
-I then tested the idle control to see if I got continuity per bentley and nada, nothing, not continuity/click or otherwise. I'm guessing this may be a big issue? I will do a search..but what are the symptoms of bad idle switch? |
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The Raven
Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2011
Posts: 303
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Well, went ahead and removed the switch....it's bad. Now where do I get one. I can't seem to find any for sale??? |
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Timwhy
Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2009
Posts: 4002
Location: Maine
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The Raven
Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2011
Posts: 303
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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I emailed him and I'm awaiting a response. In the meantime via search I found a place where someone opened up a switch to fix it. So I did. Fairly simple switch. Ended up melting a little bit here, bending a little bit there and seems to be working for now. The eccentric cam was broken as well so I just ordered one of those.
Hopefully once all is said and done, more will be done than said.
I figure I'll put the repaired switch back in, and keep a spare known working one if I can buy one from Ben. Hopefully this will solve these issues. |
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The Raven
Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2011
Posts: 303
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| Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 5:34 am Post subject: |
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I just put it all together last night. New eccentric cam where the old one was snapped off. Repaired switch in, set I think right but I do not have a feeler gauge that small so guessed the setting. I started it up, idled at 1000-1100. Did not start looping as before. Took it for a drive and once fully warm settled down to 800-900rpm.
Do have another couple questions:
On start up when sitting for a while, the starter does not turn. I have to engage the key, wait a few seconds and then it goes, No click, nada. Is this an ignition switch issue or a starter issue?
When I give it full throttle now, I notice a faint dimming of my dash lights. Natural? |
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Timwhy
Samba Member
Joined: January 01, 2009
Posts: 4002
Location: Maine
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