Hesitation & stalling when hot (was: camping...)

[AB westy nut]

Thanks Rayma, the ignition switch is on my list of things to check. With yours were you able to induce the problem by wiggling the wiring to the switch or wiggling the key around?
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1963 Ruby Red 356 Cabriolet
1976 Sage Green Westfalia Deluxe

[Rayma]

No I could not make it miss or quit with the switch installed, but fooling around with old switch after it was removed, with continuity tester showed intermitant contact. I just a wiggel the uninstalled switch with a screwdriver in the slot that receives the tab from ignition lock while in the on position,that is what confirmed it was shot, while performing a continuity test. And all summer no burps or misses. Hope that makes sense. I now also carry a spare.
Rayma

[erikgundy98]

I was able to rule out the ignition switch by jumping from battery to coil and got the bus to buck with the "jumper" in there.

I also have extra heat (dont know why it is getting hot) while sitting, driving, etc.
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'90 Multivan Westfalia

[aerosurfer]

Saw this in another thread.... perhaps another way to skin a cat

[crushie]

This manual also had tests on the ignition switch, can't remember the different tests right now, but before you pull the switch this maybe worth your while.

http://bc.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-auto-parts-tir...Z538785790



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1974 VW Combi 1800 Auto. Weber 32/36

[AB westy nut]

Well, I've stored the bus for the winter. Snow is on the ground and it looks like it's going to stay. Before I closed it up though, I was curious about the health of the battery and charging system since I had read that it could also cause the stumbling and hesitation. So I tested the battery and it read 12.66V (incidentally, it's hovering around freezing here right now). Then I started it and checked again and it read 13.76V. With the headlights and radio on it read 13.40V. According to the Bentley this is a bit low, but is it enough to cause my issues? I also wiggled the key around in the ignition while it was running but it had no effect. Jiggled the wires to the ignition switch as well. More shaking than any uneven pavement would ever cause. I don't think the ignition switch is the culprit.

So, disappointingly it's put away for the season with a host of tests I couldn't get to in time. I'll have to get back at it in the spring. Maybe Santa will fix it for me while I'm sleeping...
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1963 Ruby Red 356 Cabriolet
1976 Sage Green Westfalia Deluxe

[crushie]

[AB westy nut]

Thanks Crushie, but are you sure the key should be in the 'start' position and not just the 'on' position? My bus starts just fine.

Also, you're more than welcome to come by and give me a hand, since you love the cold so much.
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1963 Ruby Red 356 Cabriolet
1976 Sage Green Westfalia Deluxe

[crushie]

[AB westy nut]

Hey guys, I thought I'd fire this thread up again as I don't want to leave it open ended. I recently woke the bus up from it's winter hibernation and, surprisingly, it has yet to repeat the bucking/hesitation problems from last year. I took it out one day last week and did a lot of city driving with no issues. Yesterday we did a little 75 mile trip into the foothills and it ran flawlessly. There are still a host of tests that I'd like to perform so I'll keep updating this thread as I go. It would be nice to think that the winter storage somehow miraculously cured the issue, but I have my doubts...
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1963 Ruby Red 356 Cabriolet
1976 Sage Green Westfalia Deluxe

[jdedini]

[erikgundy98]

When my bus was hiccupping bucking and hesitating, I checked my spark. I thought it was fine. But, in checking my bug spark, I noticed that I couldn't check for spark without getting the shiz shocked out of me- and realized I had really weak spark on the bus. SO- in the end, my problem was my coil/ condenser. I replaced both, and spark was immediately MUCH stronger. I haven't had any problems this spring.

I did check my spark back when I was having all my issues, but thought I had "good spark", as it was "blue" not yellow or orange, but I figured it out when I saw a "good" spark on my bug. I forgot how strong it was.

Just my 2 cents.
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'90 Multivan Westfalia

[sylvanacres]

Hi there
I had the same problems on my 77 westfalia
I did the same tests to chase the same problem
Turned out to be the air flow meter
I had one from an 82 Vanagon that I put in and it has worked fine since
FYI

[AB westy nut]

Interesting. I just picked up a spare AFM which I'll try if and when the hesitations kick up again.
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1963 Ruby Red 356 Cabriolet
1976 Sage Green Westfalia Deluxe

[AB westy nut]

Mid-summer update: I've been putting on about 100 miles every weekend so far this summer. Conditions are usually the same when I set out; sunny and dry and about 22C. Not once had it hesitated or bucked up until this past Sunday, when about 15 minutes down the highway it stumbled slightly for about 10 seconds. Then all was fine again for the rest of the trip. Sorry if this is sounding like a broken record but I'm just wanting to keep the thread going until I find a solution. I'm going to install and adjust the spare AFM this weekend to see if that cures it. The problem is, the stumble is so infrequent and random that if it's not the AFM it may be weeks before the issue reappears. Sure makes for a tough diagnosis. Whatever it is, it seems the combination of all the little things I've tested/checked/tightened/adjusted/replaced has lessened the severity of the issue. If you recall, last summer there were times when it was nearly un-drivable and it would hesitate & buck nearly every time I took it out. Stay tuned...
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1963 Ruby Red 356 Cabriolet
1976 Sage Green Westfalia Deluxe

[aopisa]

I don't want to sound like a broken record either, but I had the EXACT symptoms that you have. It would go underground for long periods of time only to resurface and repeat the sequence with no predictive pattern. Sometimes it was a minor hesitation for a only a second then it would behave perfectly for several weeks. Every time I thought I had solved the problem(coil, TS II, etc.), it would return, as if the bus had malicious intent. It finally got so bad last summer that I could no longer drive it. I began to hate my bus.

I think I tried to get help both here and a multi page thread on the IAC site.

http://www.itinerant-air-cooled.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11517

I will hazard a guess and say that this problem will not fix itself.

I have also come to realize after reading countless threads that nearly every one of these bucking issues seems to have its own unique cause and solution.

On a dark night of hair pulling and cursing in my driveway a friend discovered my problem and it has been smooth sailing ever since.

To refresh your memory it was the all too simple negative battery cable making a very poor (paint and sand) connection with the chassis.

I am sure you have checked and rechecked everything that you can think of. I am still betting that there is some bad or weak electrical connection somewhere that is giving the FI system fits. I hope you can track it down soon.
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1977 Westy 2.0L FI

Leap into the boundless and make it your home! ---Chuang-Tzu

Please let me know if you do not receive this message...

[AB westy nut]

I totally agree with your thinking that it's a cracked or corroded wire somewhere in the system. I replaced the negative battery strap with a brand new one a few weeks ago but clearly wasn't the culprit. I also purchased a new Wolfsburg West positive cable but it was way too short (anyone else run into this?) so I think I'll have to make my own as I can't seem to find one the right length.
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1963 Ruby Red 356 Cabriolet
1976 Sage Green Westfalia Deluxe

[AB westy nut]

I'd like to give what I hope is the final update on my intermittent miss/hesitation issue. About a month ago I replaced the AFM with a good spare and so far, after about 400 miles of driving, the issue hasn't returned. Crossing my fingers that this is the end of the ordeal!
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1963 Ruby Red 356 Cabriolet
1976 Sage Green Westfalia Deluxe

[ol36er]

I hope this is the cure AB! I'm having the same problem and I'm gonna try a different AFM tomorrow. Fingers crossed
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WTB - Green Middle Seat Snowflake Kickpanel
WTB - Wingnut air cleaner

[WhirledTraveller]

Just to chime in that I had the same bucking symptoms that slowly worsened over time, and it too was a worn out AFM wiper track. Every time I fixed something else I thought it was running better but it always came back. But now at least I know my ignition and fuel system are in tip top shape!

It only seemed to do it warm. Which is odd when you think about it. I suppose because the worn out AFM causes lean running and when cold, the TSII makes everything rich and masks the symptoms.
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1977 Westy, Automatic. Big Valve heads, CS Cam.