1984 vanagon - 94 Subaru Stuck in San felipe MX

[Stuartzickefoose]

Hey y’all, im running into a wall on this one and could use some suggestions. Got pretty heavy into testing and have started to run out of ideas...


Got a random misfire at idle that builds into a low power can’t get over 45 mpg situation. Almost feels and sounds like running out of gas but does NOT loose more power when run or driven, and has consistent fuel pressure (but can check that again)

Recent Maintinence:
Timing belt and all pulleys and tensioner
Water pump
Spark plugs
New radiator fan switch
Oil change
Plug wires
Fuel pump replace with small improvement
Fuel filter replace no change
Cleaned MAF sensor
Cleaned throttle body (not very well but wasn’t very dirty)


Tested:
Compression
185-205 across the board so not timing jumped or would have lost consistent compression
Fuel psi at 39~ or so (new pump)
Spark test was pulling each wire and got equal power loss across all four cylinders
Fuel injectors however, randomly 3 of the 4 will have little to no effect pulling wires of injectors at idle (or any other RPM)
Noid light test shows similar results of randomly lost electrical signal
Injectors each click
Resistance at a proper ~.8 for wiring and around 11-12 per injector
Cam and crank sensors appear to be working, both will kill engine when unplugged and are clean and metal tabs of reluctor rings on crank and cam appear to be in place
Iac valve is the electrical and water type, and before I knew better I adjusted it way up and was able to trick the motor into running smoother. Put it back where it was before, as it still popped and misfired.
Checked for vacuum leaks and didn’t find any
Running correct temperatures not overheating
Found O2 sensor (3 wire) to be dirty that I replace this summer with him in Portland so we swapped with a custom one and kept the old one. Found one of the prongs in the harness was pushed back into its connector so fixed that and no change. Jerry rigged the new one in with our own wire and connectors to avoid cutting the old one and that left us zero change.

This is supposedly a hydraulic lifter motor with no adjustments out of a ~94-95 legacy, 2.2l SOHC



I’ll do my best to answer questions and I’ll post a pic or two if I can. I’m in Seattle currently and owner and van and girlfriend in Mexico still.

heres a shot of the van:

_________________
Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]

[aeromech]

So WTF Stu,
Are they stuck or mobile but poorly?
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[Stuartzickefoose]

[wcdennis]

Check Engine Light on? Codes?

[aeromech]

So they can’t make it to El Centro much less San Diego. Am I going to need to get a tow dolly and go get them? If so, I need to know ASAP
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound

[Stuartzickefoose]

[wcdennis]

Plugged up exhaust?

[skills@eurocarsplus]

20 pounds of compression is a huge swing. is this on 1 bank, or opposing banks?

I still think the timing is the culprit. what marks did you use? this sounds like a classic eversinceya...

like I said in the p/m....triple check the timing marks. if you didn't torque the center crank bolt properly it could have sheered the tooth off of the crank sprocket....or shifted it somewhat so the crank correlation could be off even if the marks are on.

OBD1 is such a pile of shit....seriously. you will need to check everything the old fashion way....bust out the FSM and the DVOM.

beyond what I have told you, I have nothing to offer without seeing it in person. have I mentioned OBD1 sucks?
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[Stuartzickefoose]

I used the belt lines for the timing marks and double checked the pulley marks. The van ran fine down to San Felipe, and when we went to leave two days later it had instantly change. It wasn’t gradual or anything.

I’ll get the comp numbers and post them up
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Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]

[AZ Landshaper]

My 2.2 jumped the timing belt and still had some compression but wasnt correct. Low power (nothing above 50mph). Mis at idle and a bit above. Every plug pulled did the same thing, not much diff. Happened when I roll started the vehicle. Only jumped two teeth.

All of the sudden too and no change in codes (still the trans signal code, as usual).

Even with a massive air leak my van was running fairly well but the IAC results make me wonder about unmetered air.

My money is on the timing.
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85 Weekender w/ EJ22
Previously
64, 71, 72, 73, 76, 81, 84, 85 & 87 Campmobiles and Westfalias
and a 67 bug.

[veloandy]

What a mystery! If you hook up a vacuum gauge and follow this guide: http://www.onallcylinders.com/2015/05/08/quick-tec...-problems/ it could help you diagnose what’s up ( clogged exhaust, valve timing, etc.)

Old school, but super helpful.

Good luck!

[Stuartzickefoose]

Comp numbers
3-4
1-2

190-205
200-200

Micah had them written down I misremembered them.

As for the crank bolt I jammed a pry bar in the flywheel and he cranked it tight with a breaker bar and red locktite so it’s not Lois but to check timing he has to get it back off. Not an easy task. I will suggest he get a cam lock tool and get it all back apart to check everything. It’s acting like timing but why would the injectors not fire consistently?
_________________
Stuart Zickefoose

2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual

206-841-7324
[email protected]

[AZ Landshaper]

i locked my crank w a belt off my jeans. you dont need any special tools for that task. Any taller mechanico worth his weight in beach sand will know the old belt trick. I just learned it from one of my employees .

Im interested to know what you find. After my belt jump last week I am eager to see if this is a common malady.

OH MEXICO
IT SOUNDS SO SWEET
WITH THE SUN SINKIN' LOW
THE MOONS SO BRIGHT
LIKE TO LIGHT UP THE LIGHT
MAKE EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT .

Buenos suerte amigo.
_________________
Support Small Business.

-------------------------------------------------------
85 Weekender w/ EJ22
Previously
64, 71, 72, 73, 76, 81, 84, 85 & 87 Campmobiles and Westfalias
and a 67 bug.

[Stuartzickefoose]

[wcdennis]

Maybe check the 12v supply to the injectors and all the engine grounds.

[skills@eurocarsplus]

Good point.....could be a ground issue for sure.

Meh....I. know there are work arounds for this stuff....but I am a tool junky....and proper torque.

Have fun with that loc tite....the crank snout is pretty delecate imho....seen many damaged
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[jimf909]

Bad gas? Did you fill-up just before this started to happen?
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- Jim

[dougnlina]

I'm just throwing darts, but it sounds like a bad coil to me, they can be quite schizophrenic
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"Olive" a '60 Ragtop Beetle
"Grover" a '87 Syncro Poptop 1.8T

[AZ Landshaper]

Wrap a belt around the alternator and the around crank pulley to prevent turning. Probably catch hell for this but here’s a diagram.

I’ve also seen it done w a belt and a steel bar laid across the engine hatch. Might better for your alternator.
_________________
Support Small Business.

-------------------------------------------------------
85 Weekender w/ EJ22
Previously
64, 71, 72, 73, 76, 81, 84, 85 & 87 Campmobiles and Westfalias
and a 67 bug.

[Wildthings]

A piece of stout rope will work as well. 3/8" or larger, preferably not too stretchy. Static climbing rope will work as will climbing sling.