2.0L Aircooled Vanagon cranks but won't start.

[Magonlia]

[Magonlia]

[quote="Wildthings"]

[Wildthings]

Either points or a Hall unit are going to cause fluctuation in the voltage on the negative side of the coil. They both have to allow current to flow through the coil and then interrupt that current, it is technically more complicated than that, but that is the gist. If you have a three wire plug on the side of the distributor then that would indicate a Hall unit, but if you have a single wire (typically green in color) between the negative post on the coil and the distributor that would indicate points.

If you have your spark plug wires swapped 180° around the distributor cap, you can have fuel and spark and the engine may not even so much as back fire.

[Magonlia]

[Wildthings]

Bad points and/or a bad connector could effect the wave form being supplied to the ECU. More likely they would create a poor spark though. As mentioned, I would suggest checking your fuel injection grounds as they are a known trouble point. I would also recommend that you buy a couple sets of Echlin ventilated points for your application, install one set according the Muir, and throw the other set along with a spare condenser into the glove box. There is an art to doing points correctly so read and reread Muir and other sources, it intimidating when you haven't done it before but easy as pie once you have done it a handful of times.

The wires may have been on in the correct positions the last time the engine was run, but someone trying to get it to start and run over the last 4 years could have moved the wires around thinking they might cure the no start problem by doing so. The wires will only work when positioned exactly like pictures of factory engines show only if the distributor drive is installed as per factory. If the distributor drive isn't installed as per factory then the wire will need to be in some other position, which is very common.

[Magonlia]

[Wildthings]

[Vanagon Nut]

So you have spark and there is some kind of pulsing going on from coil.

I didn't search entire thread but....

Key to ign. on:

- positive at injectors?

- does pushing AFM flap open cause fuel pump run?

Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[Magonlia]

[Vanagon Nut]

[jlrftype7]

[Magonlia]

[Wildthings]

If your injectors aren't being triggered you will see near battery voltage on both sides of the injectors.

[Vanagon Nut]

[Magonlia]

Update for those curious.

I took the van to a shop (Bavarian Imports Auto) in Nanaimo, BC. They were very helpful and diagnosed my issue rather quickly. Turns out the problem was the timing. Apparently, it was way out of timing which was leading to the ECU not grounding the injectors.

With that issue solved, the van runs (not very well) but unfortunately has low compression in cylinders 1 & 3 so it's looking like the heads are going to have to be replaced.

Does anyone know what are some common issues with low compression before i replace the heads? And if i have to replace the heads, what are some good preliminary measures to increase reliability?
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1982 2.0L Aircooled Vanagon Camper

[MarkWard]

It was not uncommon for the 2.0 to melt a piston. You'll know if you melted a piston when you get the heads off. A cylinder leak down test could give you a clue as to what is not sealing properly.
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[Wildthings]

Since #1 & #3 share cam lobes, you might want to rig up a way to measure the lift and/or visually inspect the cam through the lifter bores.

[Wildthings]

Since #1 & #3 share cam lobes, you might want to rig up a way to measure the lift and/or visually inspect the cam through the lifter bores.