Deal or no deal? Update: Bought it!

[bnzelener]

It was the ignition coil!!! Even though it tested OK per Bentley resistance specs, I replaced the ignition coil and the engine fired right up: https://photos.app.goo.gl/mkjU8oXKtPvPh7kH8

A gentleman named Thomas (who I found via his YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95PkgSavOCo) helped me over the phone and via WhatsApp tonight. After 3 days of testing and going mad, 45 minutes on the phone with Thomas did the trick. He provides this virtual-mechanic-help as a service for a $10 donation via his website: http://fkh161.ca/ and obviously I can't recommend him enough.

Thanks everyone for the help and suggestions! This diagnostic marathon has given me a lot more comfortability in the engine compartment -- which I'm sure I'll need down the road. Cheers!

[Ahwahnee]

If (as you say) you have spark at the plugs and fuel from the injectors then I think you are either misleading yourself or there is a problem not related to fuel or spark -- and the most likely source of that is either timing or compression.

[Vanagon Nut]

[crazyvwvanman]

You said you are getting spark at the coil and the plugs when cranking.
If that is consistently true, why would you expect a different distributor to help it start?

Mark

[bnzelener]

Hey everyone, I've put in some hours over the last week and still no luck. Cranks fine but will not start or even sputter. Bought the Bentley manual, been testing:

- I get the same behavior (cranks but doesn't start) with the spare ECU I purchased
- All ohm resistance and voltage System Check tests pass using a multimeter per Appendix B page 26 in the Bentley manual (bentley pic: https://photos.app.goo.gl/yQSZwvicAd3fj9ax8)
- I'm getting fuel out of the injectors when cranking. Pulled them and had them spray into a napkin.
- Ignition coil tested good per Bentley tests
- I'm getting spark from the ignition coil to distributor AND from individual spark plugs when cranking
- testing per this youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95PkgSavOCo -- I get power from the outside leads and when I ground the center lead I get spark off the coil wire (wiring connector going to distributor). According to him, I should replace my hall sender. Is this correct?
- Per this Bentley test list, terminal 87 on my B relay does not have power. I swapped the B & C relays and this still occurred. (bentley pics: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wfKZ2ooqKYpVE1rw8

I am going to try to find a replacement distributor to test on Monday. Does this list spark any ideas for you all? Thanks as usual!

[?Waldo?]

[bnzelener]

And it appears I'm getting plenty of fuel at the fuel rail... https://photos.app.goo.gl/NebxkjY831mka52p9

[bnzelener]

I just tried to spray starter fluid into the airbox and directly into the engine to test whether the issue is fuel vs. electrical.

The engine did not start, pop, or sputter at all: https://photos.app.goo.gl/dBFEou8yBRG7wUz4A

Sounds electrical to me - but let me know if I'm not doing this correctly.

B

[Tbob]

I had the same issue a few years ago on my 86 after a fill up at the local Murphy station. Within a few hundred feet the van, which before performed without issue, died several times on the way home, and would not stay running the next day. One of the first things I learned about diagnosing issues is to look at the last thing you did first. So, the last thing I did was fill it up, so I drained the gas(3 5 gallon cans) and put a new fuel filter on and 5 gallons of new gas(not from Murphy) and off I went, for about 100 miles. The, it started dying again. A new filter fixed it, and the old filter was hard to blow through in the direction the fuel was going. Blew that filter the other way, got no discernable water/rust/ whatever, so it setthat filter aside to open up later and investigate. This happened a few more times until I had the time to drop the tank and drain it completely. Doing that solved the problem.
_________________
1969 Deluxe, owned since 1973
1973 Westfalia, owned since 1983
1980 Westfalia, watercooled conversion
1985 Westfalia, stock!
1986 Westfakia, Audi I-4 conversion
A couple of trucks and a couple of Jeeps

[dhaavers]

Indeed...(???)

PS/FYI: Yes, I'll be up north this weekend (boat however, not van...)

- Dave
_________________
86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[Abscate]

[dhaavers]

[Jake de Villiers]

A quick old fashioned way to rule out spark is to tip a little gas down its throat post filter: if spark and timing are good it will fire for you and you'll know to focus on any fuel delivery issues.

Good luck!
_________________
'84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7.5 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
www.thebassspa.com

[Ahwahnee]

[crazyvwvanman]

That damaged red wire looks like the power wire to the engine wiring box post, used by the fuel injection, ECU, fuel pump.

Mark

[Vanagon Nut]

[bnzelener]

Thanks all -- I'll start working through these things this evening.

For more context, I took some pictures and recorded a couple of videos:

- The unplugged wires were (A) one of two brown wires to the power steering pump and (B) the wire harness that plugs into the bottom of this box. No idea what it does. Pics below.

- Here's a video with some coverage on that alternator wire: https://photos.app.goo.gl/qM8wqjKJawqBB7KZ7

- Here's a video of me trying to start the van so you can hear the engine cranking: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Xx8Eq1N15zTADhJ18

(A)

(B)

[bobbyblack]

[kamzcab86]

Passed through Moab myself nearly 2 weeks ago en route home from Wyoming.

Wow... lots of work done since your new toy was bought!

[crazyvwvanman]

His linked video shows the power steering switch wires in proper place.

He also said be found unplugged wires and plugged them in.
It would be nice to know exactly what wires those were. Maybe they were unplugged for a reason.

Since he is getting spark as he shows in his video, the power post in the wiring box has power.

Mark

"- Pulled spark plug and it seems like we're getting good spark: https://photos.app.goo.gl/nStCFK76DVoiVPzp7 "