The Air-cooled Vanagon and You: Fuel Injection

[youngp]

Hi Art,
My 1982 Air-cooled VW Vanagon Camper - California version with electronic ignition and electronic fuel injection (220,000 miles) purchased new just started to have a random intermittent (FI) fuel injection issue - all fuel injectors stop flowing fuel. Turn the key off and hit the starter; the engine runs again. Tachometer shows the distributor is working. Replaced the Bosch ignitions wires (P/N 09171) and now getting fewer random intermittent FI shutdowns (reduced Electro Magnet Interference (EMI)?).

Do you think any of these could be the problem?
1. L-Jetronic Electronic Control Unit (ECU) with dried out electrolyte capacitors
2. EMI from the ignition wires flowing into the wiring harness - shielding?
3. 12 volt alternator voltage regulator producing voltage spikes to the ECU
4. Wiring continuity / resistance issue

BTW: My Vanagon engine has the improved VW fuel injection wiring harness with rerouted wires to minimize EMI issues.

Any experience with a similar Vanagon Fuel Injection problem?

Thanks,
Phil

[Wasted youth]

More information… the pictures are a little out of order…

I have measured Ohms on 8 of my spares of this part number above. 2.3 to 2.5 Ohms on average. Not done with the research yet…

[MarkWard]

You’d want to compare resistance of an individual injector. There are 2 types. Low resistance and high resistance. They are not interchangeable. Flow rates for most vanagon injectors are likely similar. You’d want sets of 4, don’t mix and match and you should be fine.

[GoEverywhere]

[Wasted youth]

OK, thanks fellas. That information really helps out quite a bit. I was actually on The Bus Depot website when I noticed those injectors identified for a 1981 Vanagon spanned the whole range of years, and I felt that couldn’t be right because of my opening question.

So with this new information, I can head down the correct path. Thanks again and when I find the correct application, hopefully I will have the wherewithal to post that information here.

I do recall that there was a color band difference between the wasserboxer and air-cooled. I think the wasserboxer is yellow, while the Baywindow injectors are blue band.

It would be interesting to see if the original injectors for these had a different color from those.

[Wildthings]

[GoEverywhere]

[Wasted youth]

That is what I have - a California emissions package, bone stock. I did not know this was pertinent. 1981 Model

Does this fact suggest I need to source California-emissions specific injectors?

[GoEverywhere]

[Wasted youth]

I'm getting concerned about what I see regarding new fuel injectors for sale. The late Baywindow L-Jetronic system used a stand-alone voltage resistor pack for the fuel injectors.

The air-cooled Vanagon does not use that - I think the resistor is integral to the injector, or the controlling voltage is handled by the ECU.

Yet...

All of the new fuel injectors I see for sale show compatibility for all fuel injection years from 1975 into the late 1980's. So I am concerned that either I am ignorant to some information on how the injector voltage is handled, or the vendors are selling the wrong injectors.

Example: Standard Motor Products FJ634

Anyone have some solid input on this issue?

Please don't suggest I send out the injectors for servicing. That is not the point.

[jlrftype7]

[Vanagon Nut]

This appears to be the "latest" solution for the BMW CSV on the Bay Window 2.0

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=...50#9080343

As was commented on, my first thought looking at the installed part was how vibration over time might affect the CSV. If advisable-feasible, install a brace from T to upper bolt securing CSV to plenum?

Neil.
_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)

1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[Vanagon Nut]

[jlrftype7]

[Vanagon Nut]

[jlrftype7]

Hey Neil, is the Cold Start Injector still NLA, or has someone started offering them again?
_________________
'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto

[Vanagon Nut]

[jlrftype7]

[Turboclap]

I’m about to start the task of removing aftermarket carburetors and installing the original fuel injection system back into my 81 westy automatic.

Any recommendations for a manual to help me in the process?

[Wildthings]

You can replace the steel lines with 30r9 fuel hose including the high pressure variant of the 30r14 hose. There are a few less joints that way and perhaps the fuel pressure would be a bit more buffered as well.