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RidgeWalker
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2015
Posts: 33
Location: Colorado
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 Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 8:33 am Post subject: Intermittent power loss |
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I’m traveling in Kentucky from Colorado in a stock 84 with a 1.9L. Over the last several hundred miles the van will intermittently lose power and immediately return to normal. Imagine driving a 60mph for an hour and suddenly the engine quits for 2 seconds then resumes.
Done:
New fuel filter
New fuel pump
New fuel pressure regulator
Cleaned all the grounds I know about including those listed in the sticky post on grounds for the 1.9L.
New temp 2 sensor
It’s in a shop now. They are familiar with Vanagons.
After an hour of trouble shooting they are not sure what is happening because it didn’t misbehave in a 30 mile drive and everything they checked is fine.
FedEx will deliver a new oxygen sensor and air flow meter (rebuilt) today which they will install.
I’m getting a new set of plugs and wires too.
Any other ideas on things I should check?
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1984 Vanagon Camper aka Sonja |
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IdahoDoug
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10248
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 8:38 am Post subject: Re: Intermittent power loss |
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It's fall and the big daily temp swings are most likely to cause condensation in ground tanks this time of year. I experienced exactly this symptom on a road trip 3 days ago. On my next fill up I quit being the only buyer for the Premium fuel which is likely old and bought the Regular grade. It stopped immediately because modern fuel has 10% ethynol which absorbs water.
So that's a thought - ESPECIALLY if you've been buying premium on the trip.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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silversync
Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2005
Posts: 185
Location: San Pasqual Valley, CA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 8:42 am Post subject: Re: Intermittent power loss |
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 Watching..... my '89 has the same symptoms, started a couple of weeks ago. While simply driving along, the engine completely stops for a couple of seconds and then continues as if nothing happened. Thanks for any additional info on what they found with your Vanagon.
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Roland: '89 Syncro, '02 911 C4S, '10 Audi A4 Avant |
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0to60in6min
Samba Member
Joined: November 27, 2006
Posts: 3416
Location: OR & CA (Oregon/California)
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| Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 9:04 am Post subject: Re: Intermittent power loss |
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| it's possible that either injection relay or fuel pump relay start of fail intermittently. |
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jlrftype7
Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2018
Posts: 3576
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 11:17 am Post subject: Re: Intermittent power loss |
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| 0to60in6min wrote: |
| it's possible that either injection relay or fuel pump relay start of fail intermittently. |
^^^^ I vote for gently tapping on the relays with the handle of a screwdriver while the engine is idling, and see if it cuts out. BMW had a large problem with a certain manuf. and their relay for several models in the 90s. The Acid test was a slight tap on the relay, the engines would die out instantly almost every time since all of this particular relays production was suspect[ Seimens relay, not a Bosch...]
Anyway,, relays get old and worn just like everything else.
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'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 |
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SCM
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2011
Posts: 3114
Location: Bozeman MT
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| Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 12:09 pm Post subject: Re: Intermittent power loss |
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| IdahoDoug wrote: |
| Premium fuel which is likely old |
That's a sound theory.
I'm just adding this because, last year at this very time I was visiting EVERY DARN (confidential client's) gas station in the Idaho panhandle and I thought it was interesting...
The premium tanks are typically about 1/2 the size of the regular tanks. The middle grade of gas is not a separate tank but rather a mix of the regular and premium that get blended as you pump it. If you walk into a gas station with a clipboard and sound confident that you belong there, the manager will give a great tour and practically open the safe for you.
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'91 Westfalia GL Automatic (GTA "Turbo" Rebuild w/Peloquin) and 2.3L GoWesty Engine |
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RidgeWalker
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2015
Posts: 33
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 5:36 pm Post subject: Re: Intermittent power loss |
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The van is out of the shop. Time will tell if the problem is fixed by the oxygen sensor or air meter. I also had them replace plugs and wires.
I’ll definitely tap on the relays and see if anything changes.
And I normally burn regular grade fuel, occasionally mid grade.
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1984 Vanagon Camper aka Sonja |
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RidgeWalker
Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2015
Posts: 33
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2018 11:09 am Post subject: Re: Intermittent power loss |
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One of the above fixed the problem. Since I did a shotgun approach, cleand grounds, replaced sensors, replaced plugs, wires, cap and rotor, etc I'll never know exactly what caused the problem. I'm back home after 3,600 miles from Colorado to Kentucky and back.
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1984 Vanagon Camper aka Sonja |
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