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goubeaux Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2017 Posts: 89 Location: Santa Barbara, California
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Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2024 5:47 pm Post subject: Re: Van has no power, uphill, highway and now on flat... |
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I just unbolted and removed the CAT. The good news is that the interior honeycomb wafers are not shattered into pieces. Bad news is the larger wafer or diaphragm (closest to the outlet) has dislodged from the interior cylinder and is floating free (explains the rattling I heard). However it is fastened to the interior it has failed. Seems like a "defect" to me.
GW ( who I bought it from ) says:
Our brand-new catalytic converters feature a stainless steel body—lifetime warranty against defects and a 20% larger catalyst area for those extra clean smog tests!
We are proud to offer our super-quality private-label version for a few hundred bucks less! That's right, we've got your back.
I guess I'm going to NOW find out IF they DO "Have my back" OR Just my Bucks ! |
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Love My Westy Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2007 Posts: 1838
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Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2024 12:52 pm Post subject: Re: Van has no power, uphill, highway and now on flat... |
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When you replace the CAT be sure you also check to be sure there are on pieces of it inside your muffler. I had a CAT replaced after I lost power on the Oregon coast. When I got it back it seemed to run ok but it didn't seem to have quite as much power and the milage dropped to under 15 mpg. Later on I pulled the muffler and discovered a 1" chunk of CAT material in the muffler. It was about a year before I found it but when I got that out of there the van ran better and got back to it's normal milage. |
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Howesight Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2008 Posts: 3274 Location: Vancouver, B.C.
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Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2024 10:06 am Post subject: Re: Van has no power, uphill, highway and now on flat... |
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The rattling in the CAT and muffler area, combined with the lack of power, are strong symptoms of a failed CAT. Sadly, since you are in California, you will most likely be replacing that expensive CAT. _________________ '86 Syncro Westy SVX |
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dobryan Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006 Posts: 16503 Location: Brookeville, MD
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goubeaux Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2017 Posts: 89 Location: Santa Barbara, California
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Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:54 am Post subject: Re: Van has no power, uphill, highway and now on flat... |
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I'm adding to this existing thread as I've just started experiencing symptoms similar to the OP, I also never saw that the OP posted a resolution to their issue. So here I go:
I'm seeing, starting yesterday, lack of acceleration -car bogged down in 3'rd getting on the freeway. It feels like it is getting starved of air or fuel. In my case these symptoms cropped up after I started hearing rattling going on in the CAT (at idle) as well as rattling upon accelerating from a stop, coming from the rear of the car. So I already suspected the CAT was failing.
I must say this is disappointing as the CAT only has 7K miles on it, and the engine is newish (35k) -was running well, just passed CA smog, and not burning oil or otherwise in bad shape. Also, I now see the same 50 state Magnaflow Catalytic Converter from GW is about $1200 !!
I'll report back after I pull the CAT and investigate further. |
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oboi Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2019 Posts: 1 Location: CA
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Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2023 3:34 pm Post subject: Re: Van has no power, uphill, highway and now on flat... |
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Reviving this thread in hope that one of you has solve this issue. I have the exact same problem, runs great when cold, but when it heats up can’t get past 3000RPM and can barely get up hills. Unfortunate since I live in San Francisco haha…
Changed the AFM and checked the air intake and it’s in good condition.
I thought it was cat converter restriction, but I just removed completelyit and took it for a (very loud) spin, and it did the same thing after heating up. Any ideas?
Thanks a lot! |
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vanaglobal Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2016 Posts: 50 Location: NYC
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Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2022 5:47 pm Post subject: Re: Van has no power, uphill, highway and now on flat... |
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Hi guys I'm having similar symptoms after making two adjustments.
I was feeling like the van (83.5 1.9l) was getting bad gas mileage, so I did the most basic thing: check the grounds. Aha! the ground to the fuel pump was hanging by a thread... so I went to replace the ground but the screw that grounds the wire into the car frame was stripped so I just screwed it into another part of the frame. It was a little dusty so I sanded it down a bit and screwed it in there. I also replaced the O2 sensor because it had never been replaced and it was cheap enough thinking it might help my mileage. Van runs great until I get on the highway and shift into 4th gear... No strech, doesnt accelerate past 45-50.
It has to be either the o2 sensor or that ground but I don't see why... Do I just need to sand the contact point of the ground some more? Wouldn't I just get no fuel? The fuel pump sounds strong... _________________ 83.5 1.9l wasserboxer westfalia |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32625 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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greenwesty73 Samba Member
Joined: November 10, 2008 Posts: 39 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2015 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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@djkeev:
so if by revving the engine hard, oil started leaking (toward the back of the engine), this would be caused by a pressure build-up, maybe confirming a lack of "breathability" because of a clogged cat. _________________ ___________
1973 westfalia 1700 single carb
1989 vanagon gl wolfsburg |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32625 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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greenwesty73 Samba Member
Joined: November 10, 2008 Posts: 39 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2015 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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@bikerbus: he's so convinced it's the AFM. It ran like a dream for 40-50 miles (which it usually does), then same same, no power. Will talk to him tomorrow, will bring back the van tomorrow.
The engine is a full new parts rebuild (heads and all) with 30k miles on (the van has 250k miles). Computer, coolant hoses, gaz tank +++ all done in the last years. Normally for fuel economy, the ICV is unplugged (i only drive it summers). I replugged it this year, but lately, i get 1000-1100rpm (variable...related?).
Again, thank you all for your inputs. _________________ ___________
1973 westfalia 1700 single carb
1989 vanagon gl wolfsburg |
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Ahwahnee Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010 Posts: 9808 Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2015 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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djkeev wrote: |
Classic clogged convertor or clogged muffler symptons.... |
I agree - mine behaved similarly the first time the cat packed it in. Most muffler shops (or good mechanics) can test for the excessive back pressure that is a measurable symptom.
Sometimes a failed cat will rattle, sometimes it will not. If it has a big impact on performance there is usually a change in the exhaust note associated with it. |
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Das67bus Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2008 Posts: 242 Location: Prescott, AZ
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Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2015 4:20 pm Post subject: Re: Van has no power, uphill, highway and now on flat... |
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greenwesty73 wrote: |
Hi,
My van was running really fine, that was until i got to have no power on the highway and hills (low degree). cannot go beyond 3000rpm, and seems to get worse.
My mechanic changed sparkplugs, distributor cap and fuel filter. Idle is good, but has soon has i drive and it warms up, same same, and problem gets to be at lower speeds now...And started leaking oil while he was checking high reving. Cat blocked, fuel pump, timing...where to look?
Thank you!
Greenwesty
89 wolfburg bluestar |
Just curious......did your mechanic offer any help? I would think he/she would try to address the problem(s). ???? _________________ SLOW RIDE........TAKE IT EASY!!!
-Foghat
COMFORTABLY NUMB!!
-Pink Floyd |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32625 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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greenwesty73 Samba Member
Joined: November 10, 2008 Posts: 39 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2015 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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Well...The AFM was thought to be the culprid. That was cleaned, was running awesome saturday morning, later on after 30 miles from the repair, i could not go at some higher speed (65+mph) but it was windy. Today, could not climb a hill on second, had to be in first gear...Normally i'm in third, than second on a tight turn than third again. I hear a rattle in (around) the exaust...Back to the garage if i can get there.
idle is smooth, goes a bit high when hot 1000-1100rpm.
Will have the fuel pump checked, and have check for air leaks. Normally my mechanic is dead on stuff, and pretty good, but with this... _________________ ___________
1973 westfalia 1700 single carb
1989 vanagon gl wolfsburg |
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Vinzanto Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2012 Posts: 247 Location: Kansas City
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 9:43 pm Post subject: |
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Timing is worth a check. Have you attempted to adjust the timing lately? I had a similar issue on wet mornings. Would start and idle fine but would not rev over 3-4k. Then when under load had no power. This lead me to believe it was an ignition issue (plugs, cap wires, coil) but after a lot of trial and error dialing my timing in solved the issue. _________________ 1984 Vanagon Westfalia Wolfsberg |
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otiswesty Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2006 Posts: 1730 Location: Portland
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds like when I had a plugged fuel injector. Good compression on all 4 but only running on 3 cylinders. _________________ 1978 Sage Green P22 Westfalia
1989 T3 Syncro Single cab
Just a regular guy |
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bluebus86 Banned
Joined: September 02, 2010 Posts: 11075
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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Where is the oil leak at??? address that first I say. Is this mechanic simply shotgunning the repairs? (ie trying anything on your coin). time for some diagnostic's.
were the old plugs cap and rotor defective?
from fine running to bad suddenly usually is not a spark plug issue. plugs tend to go bad slowly not suddenly.
check timing, check fuel pressure, check the ECU sensors. does the exhaust smell rich? _________________ Help Prevent VW Engine Fires, see this link.....Engine safety wire information
Stop introducing dirt into your oil when adjusting valves ... https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=683022 |
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phatveedub Samba Member
Joined: September 18, 2008 Posts: 93 Location: Sac
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 8:20 pm Post subject: loss of power |
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Could be a plugged air filter too - easy enough to check/replace. |
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wecm31 Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2012 Posts: 358 Location: Eganville, Ontario
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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daroota wrote: |
Also A tear in your intake boot may be the culprit. Allowing too much Air and leaning out your mix.
It's a quick easy check. The increased RPM's torque the engine a bit, which opens the tear and causes no power when over that touchy point.
Just my 2 cents from experience. |
X2...just went through your symptoms, was vacuum leak.
Intake boot clamp found loose on intake plenum.
And vacuum leaks are just like fuel starvation at times...
Just that it's too much un metered air.
Try a propane sniff test. _________________ Gerald P
1985 Vanagon (Betty) & 1985 BMW R80RT (Wilhelm)
vintage boxers!!
Gone are the days we stopped to decide
Where we should go, we just ride:) |
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