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torchmonkey Samba Member
Joined: June 16, 2012 Posts: 248 Location: Philly
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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 12:04 pm Post subject: Red dust in distributor cap/ no start |
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Van has intermittently not started for the past few months, probably once a week. Always got itself running though. Today it just refused to start so I had a look around the engine and after checking plugs, fuel flow, etc... I checked the distributor on a whim. The inside of it was completely covered in a fine red dust. I blew it out and sprayed some contact cleaner in a few areas and it started right up. Any idea what this dust was??? _________________ 1983 1/2 Westfalia |
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greggearhead Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2004 Posts: 563 Location: Colorado Springs, CO
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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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I've seen a number of bad distributor caps on Vanagons lately. Like 4 of them within 2 months, that had the center spring-loaded electrode start to disintegrate or similar. Caps and rotors are cheap - good time for maintenance, order two of ea an throw one set in the glovebox. _________________ 1972 Porsche 911E
1973 VW 412
1984 VW Doka
1991 Vanagon Syncro Westy
Period Lights, VW & Porsche wheels and Recaro/Scheel Seats for sale
https://www.facebook.com/greggearhead
http://greggearhead.com/soco-swap---september-vw-swap-meet.html |
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Merian Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014 Posts: 5212 Location: Orygun
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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 1:54 pm Post subject: Re: Red dust in distributor cap/ no start |
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torchmonkey wrote: |
Any idea what this dust was??? |
It is almost certainly Chinese drywall dust, which is what cheap dist. caps are made from. |
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0to60in6min Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2006 Posts: 3414 Location: OR & CA (Oregon/California)
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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 1:58 pm Post subject: |
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without a pic of the cap it will be hard to tell..
my guess it's the red dust is from the plastic cap... via friction of some sort... |
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Mr Brown Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2006 Posts: 161 Location: Somewhere In Canada
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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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I had this when all the shim washers on the distributor shaft departed. The rotor rubbed the cap as it pushed too far up due to all the play in the distributor shaft. |
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Jon_slider Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2007 Posts: 5091 Location: Santa Cruz, Crowdifornia
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Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2014 10:54 am Post subject: |
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Mr Brown wrote: |
I had this when all the shim washers on the distributor shaft departed |
Super helpful post! Much Respect. _________________ My Soapboxes: Inflation; Handling; Gearing; Decoupling; Swepco |
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torchmonkey Samba Member
Joined: June 16, 2012 Posts: 248 Location: Philly
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Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2014 1:15 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the replies. I'll look more closely at the distributor over the holiday weekend. I didn't get a pic before cleaning as I was in a major rush to get it started and get my butt to work. _________________ 1983 1/2 Westfalia |
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torchmonkey Samba Member
Joined: June 16, 2012 Posts: 248 Location: Philly
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 6:03 pm Post subject: |
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Been having some slight hesitation issues the past two days and decided to open the distributor, this is what I found. I'm pretty confident it's rust dust from somewhere in there. Just a side note: until the van warms up there is a squeaky sound coming from the engine, haven't looked into that but I'll bet it's coming from the the dizzy too.
_________________ 1983 1/2 Westfalia |
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borninabus Samba R&D Dept.
Joined: May 18, 2006 Posts: 4532 Location: Arizona Highways
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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that orange dust is called "rust". _________________ 71 Ghia A/S - 88 Van A/T - 13 JSW TDI 6M/T |
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MacLeod Willy Samba Member
Joined: February 18, 2014 Posts: 933 Location: Ontario Canada
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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Wonder if the vent in the body of the dist is plugged causing condensation? |
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torchmonkey Samba Member
Joined: June 16, 2012 Posts: 248 Location: Philly
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 7:26 am Post subject: |
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Hmm? There is a vent in the distributor? You mean that rectangular gap at the edge of the cap? If you look closely that rust is blowing out of the dist. and onto the surrounding hoses and wires form that "gap". _________________ 1983 1/2 Westfalia |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50255
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 7:33 am Post subject: |
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I would suggest finding another distributor and installing it. You could pull that one apart, but I would guess that there is considerable wear on multiple parts. How much side to side and up and down play is there to the shaft? These distributors need to be lubed occasionally to prevent something like this from happening. You can buy kits that contain the thrust washers or you can buy generic washers from McMaster Carr or others, but if the bushings are shot or the shafts are worn you would just be wasting your time.
Would be nice to see pictures of it torn down though if you go that route. |
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MacLeod Willy Samba Member
Joined: February 18, 2014 Posts: 933 Location: Ontario Canada
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 2:08 pm Post subject: |
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torchmonkey wrote: |
Hmm? There is a vent in the distributor? You mean that rectangular gap at the edge of the cap? If you look closely that rust is blowing out of the dist. and onto the surrounding hoses and wires form that "gap". |
Maybe not on yours but under the main body near the outer edge there is a small plug, approx. 7mm with a fine screen. |
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tasb The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002 Posts: 6371 Location: Pentwater, Michigan
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2015 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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On those later dual port distributors the ozone vent is on the bottom facing side of the housing and rust will not easily pass into or out of that vent. _________________ Roads Scholar &
1957 Kombi low mileage 36 hp governor equipped M 178 Slow Drag Winner 2014, 2015, 2018
1965 hardtop Deluxe Microbus owned since 1990 M 620 factory 12 v 1500cc
1961 (October)Single Cab- Road Trip Workhorse |
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