1988 Vanagon with bucking and eventual stalling problem

Abscate

nB...OP last visited in 2012, cold dead thread.
_________________
🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🍊 🍊 🍊

OldBlueSyncro · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 6:52 pm Post subject:

crazyvwvanman · Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 12:42 pm Post subject:

Where are you broken down? I try to break down at big auto parts stores, limping there if possible or I get towed to one if I plan to work on it myself. That way I can buy wire, other parts, and tools as I work on the problem. Nobody seems to mind if you have your head in the engine compartment while at an auto parts store. Other guys come and go there all the time so you can ask for a hand from someone likely to be willing to help, over and over as needed.

It is a simple matter to rig a wire in the back to make the starter crank from the engine compartment. You just need about 3 feet of 12 or 14 gauge wire and a female spade crimped onto one end.

Also, on the front of the engine relay box is a 2 wire connector that plugs into the relay box. You can use that to stop the engine from the back with the key still on. Just pull that connector loose and the ECU and fuel pump power will be disconnected immediately.

Mark

CaptTurbo · Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 12:30 pm Post subject:

Have you checked to see that you still have fuel pressure?

Flat in the back · Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 11:34 am Post subject:

crazyvwvanman · Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 10:45 am Post subject:

"Vanagon Syndrome" has nothing to do with any starting problems. Most vans with the true syndrome start fine. That is one of the ways the syndrome is officially diagnosed. The van starts fine, drives fine, but after a while it start bucking or whatever. If you stop and start the engine the bucking always goes away. It may come back soon or it may not come back for a long time. That is the syndrome symptoms. Of course you can have more than one problem, including the syndrome.

Mark

Flat in the back · Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 10:08 am Post subject:

morymob · Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 4:07 am Post subject:

U may notice that the cable to the ecu is pretty stiff with time and caused mine to pop partially off once. Take a heat lamp/heat gun and carefully warm up cable until it bends easily(after ecu mounted) and re-bend so no strain on connector. Have u done ALL the grounds recently?

Flat in the back · Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 5:46 pm Post subject:

hi there, i came across your thread cuz i'm researching on how to fix my 89 vanagon.. it had the similar bucking situation for the past few days. the engine bucked when i took off in every gear, it even backfired at one point. but if i were to give it a few revs or keep the rpm high then i was able to take off fine. i was figuring it out in my head as i was driving, thinking it might be either fuel or hall sensor. but this morning after i pulled out of the walgreen's driveway, the van just stalled as i was shifting. i didn't even notice it at first, but then i thought i might be low on gas. so i put some fuel in it and checked the 7mm bolt at the fuel line T and there was gas squirting out. so i replaced the distributor with a good used one i bought a while back as a spare, and it didn't make any difference.. my van still isn't starting Sad

_________________
2005 Saab 92x Aero: Flat in the front (for sale)
1970 Porsche 914-6: Flat in the middle
1958 Volkswagen Panel Bus: Flat in the back
1989 Volkswagen Vanagon Bluestar: Flat in the back

srb · Samba Member Joined: August 21, 2007 Posts: 63

I'm waiting to hear back from some ECU seller on thesamba.com.

I think I might as well break down and just buy a used on that's known working.
_________________
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg

Ahwahnee · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 6:09 pm Post subject:

My ECU seems silent... though on an 84 it is somewhat diffferent and in the engine compartment.

MidwestDrifter · Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 5:53 pm Post subject:

I don't have a water boxer. But my digifant 2 ecu doesn't make any discernible noise. However my ignition module does make some humming noise sometimes. Maybe try out a used ECU?
_________________
2004 Dodge/Mercedes Sprinter (Custom Camper)
2000 Jetta TDI
1982 Diesel Westy W/ ABA I4 hybrid (Sold)
Epic Road Tripping since 08/05/12 | http://VagariesAbound.blogspot.com/
My Current Build | http://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41215

srb · Samba Member Joined: August 21, 2007 Posts: 63

*bump*

Any one got the time to put their ear to their ECU?
_________________
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg

srb · Samba Member Joined: August 21, 2007 Posts: 63

I wonder if one of you wizards could do me a favor:

Start of your van, lift the back bench up, and listen to the ECU. Does it make a high-paced clicking sound?

Mine does, it's rather loud, and I wanted to know if that is normal. Or, if any clicking sound should be heard from the device.

Cheers.
_________________
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg

MidwestDrifter · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:28 pm Post subject:

With most of the components on these boards, brief excursions to 200c is acceptable. In the factory they usually flow (melt the solder) in an oven.

They key to not damaging the components is to have your iron nice and hot and to get in and out quickly. A colder iron will take longer to melt the solder on the pad and can actually cause more heat damage.

For example xbox 360s have a common cold solder joint issue. I have fixed many by just tossing them in the oven...
http://www.se7ensins.com/forums/threads/xbox-360-oven-reflow-tutorial.201540/

Certain components don't like getting really hot, like capacitors. However they have small leads, so doing a hand re-flow isn't much of a concern.
_________________
2004 Dodge/Mercedes Sprinter (Custom Camper)
2000 Jetta TDI
1982 Diesel Westy W/ ABA I4 hybrid (Sold)
Epic Road Tripping since 08/05/12 | http://VagariesAbound.blogspot.com/
My Current Build | http://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41215

Vanagon Nut · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 3:47 pm Post subject:

MidwestDrifter · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 3:24 pm Post subject:

Ya if you can locate the bad joints its not to tough to fix. Sometimes you can't see the cracks, then its a hit or miss kinda thing. They way to prevent this it to stress relieve the plug where the harness connects to the ECU. The goal is to prevent any type of cyclical/fatigue stress by removing the possibility of vibration. It could also be your harness not the ECU. Might be worth it to follow the service manual checks for the harness, looking for an intermittent issue.
_________________
2004 Dodge/Mercedes Sprinter (Custom Camper)
2000 Jetta TDI
1982 Diesel Westy W/ ABA I4 hybrid (Sold)
Epic Road Tripping since 08/05/12 | http://VagariesAbound.blogspot.com/
My Current Build | http://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41215

srb · Samba Member Joined: August 21, 2007 Posts: 63

Thanks Midwest Drifter. I'd be game to crack it open and resolder, but yes, 100 bucks and I could just throw in a new, used ECU. Hmmm....
_________________
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg

MidwestDrifter · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 3:05 pm Post subject:

PCB=Printed Circuit Board Its the actual core of the ECU where the wires from the harness connect to the electronic guts. There are solder connections that connect the plug on the outside to the PCB.
Over time constant heat cycling and vibration can cause the solder joints to crack. Only way to fix it permanently is to open the ecu up an re-solder. Usually its simpler to just get a good used ECU.

Here is an example of the cracking. The green board is the PCB.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
2004 Dodge/Mercedes Sprinter (Custom Camper)
2000 Jetta TDI
1982 Diesel Westy W/ ABA I4 hybrid (Sold)
Epic Road Tripping since 08/05/12 | http://VagariesAbound.blogspot.com/
My Current Build | http://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41215


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

1988 Vanagon with bucking and eventual stalling problem
Page: 1, 2 Next

	Forum Index -> Vanagon	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time Page: 1, 2 Next
Page 1 of 2