A few things that don't look right

[coopertj1]

Good morning, vanagon peeps.

I receny bought a 1980 Air-cooled vanagon. I bought it not running but it great shape overall. After changing the plugs and replacing a few things, she runs okay more or less. I've just run idle in the garage and around the neighborhood a few times. At idle she runs fine but backfires every so often..

Here on the forum I've seent that it could be a vacuum leak or a myriad of other things.

While looking around I've noticed some things that don't look right.

1. A hole forward of the distributor cap. I can feel air coming out so maybe that could be an issue.

2. Colored wires that look like telephone wire coming from ignition coil. This may not be related but it may need to be corrected.

[the joker]

Welcome , this is going to be the first of many question you will have,before you problem solve yourself. That being said, lets move on , first and for most, FUEL lines,vaccum hoses and the likes, looks like , someone used decent clamps, try to reuse them, as for the hole in the tin shield? haven't owned airc in a long while, maybe someone can chime in.
The low volt wires? aftermarket something or other is my bet.

After a good cleaning /replacement of ,said hoses, then fiqure your tune up idle issues, it's kind of cart before horse mentality , good luck ,it's a big adventure (one,off the road) when you own a westy.

[?Waldo?]

That hole should be plugged. It is currently leaking out your coolant (air). There should also be a grommet around the larger oil pressure switch hole to the right. The telephone wire is not stock. Trace it to find out what it is.

[coopertj1]

?waldo?

Thanks for the reply.
Any chance you have a pictures of that grommett plug?

[leecat]

I just picked up an '81 air cooled, tried to take grommet pics for you and discovered I am missing the same ones you are! Any chance you have an aftermarket tach installed in your van, and the mystery coil wires are for the tach signal?

And gotta second the motion to replace fuel lines instantly and run a Blazecut if you can - I have this new van because my last one went up in flames, these vans burn like Dresden when they get going.

[valvecovergasket]

I like that two strands of the phone wire were used. Wouldn't want to skimp and half ass it with just one!
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MegaSquirt resource - SpitfireEFI.com

gone, but not forgotten: '83 tdi westy - swap thread

[Vanagon Nut]

It appears you do not have the California version fuel injection so looking at Bentley wiring diagrams with that in mind....

The Federal fuel injection shows only one wire from coil 1 (goes to ECU). So, that bundled red wire to coil 1 connection may also not be stock. I'd be curious of that wire, trace it.

And I agree. That new telephone wire at coil 1 connection is likely for a tach or future tach install. Can't imagine what else would need a 1 connection.


Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[jimf909]

[coopertj1]

My van does have an aftermarket tach, so that must be the answer to why the telephone wire was used. One of the previous owners was an "industrious" person who didn't half ass anything.

If anyone has pics, a link, or options about the grommet around the oil pressure switch and the plug for that other hole, I'd appreciate it. I've searched gowesty, parts place, vanagain, and haven't found anything yet.

[valvecovergasket]

[Vanagon Nut]

[coopertj1]

I'll just post this link for someone else who may have the same problem in the future...@leecat

[jimf909]

[Californio]

But to get back to the original question about backfiring, neither the wire nor the hole would cause this.

[Vanagon Nut]

Does the tach work correctly?

To confirm, is there a red wire connecting to coil? If so, what does it connect to?

Looking at online tach wiring diagrams, it's possible the PO mistakenly connected the tach positive wire to coil 1 and not coil 15 (where OE black wires connect)

The distributor looks like the original points type but does this van have aftermarket electronic ignition?

Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[MarkWard]

I'm 90% sure the small hole had a plastic part that snapped into the shroud and had slots to secure the spark plug wires. Not exactly necessary at this point, but a rubber plug would be a nice fix.
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[Zeitgeist 13]

You should post a pic of the entire engine bay so we can see what other seals might be missing. It's super important to have a tightly sealed engine bay in order for these engines to provide long service life. You also should see if the thermostat is functioning and the cable is intact.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[coopertj1]

[coopertj1]

[coopertj1]