87 Westy loss of power

[TeamSpatula]

Driving home last night on the interstate, about 30 miles out, cruising about 65, felt a drop in power, and all of a sudden I couldn't go over about 50 mph with it floored. I pulled over, popped the hatch, and didn't see anything obvious - wires, hoses, etc, all looked fine. Got back in, and limped home, seemed ok in 1st - 3rd, just 4th where it wouldn't get over about 3600 rpm, which was a bit above 50 mph. Checked the Bentley, which had absolutely no helpful information. Idle is great, everything else seems fine. What to check?
Thanks,
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<---Air Cooled Search & Rescue Team - STICKERS & T-shirts for sale!
1981 Diesel Rabbit
I NEED A CAMPER!!!! (1971 is ideal but will consider other years)
http://www.TeamSpatula.com

[mightyart]

Start with the fuel filter first, may have got a chunk of something in there that is restricting your gas flow a bit. also take a close look at all hoses, clamps, injectors, ect. Something may have come loose or came off and you opened an air leak. also does it drive better or worse if its cold, this could be a bad temp, and or oxigen sensor. The bently is kind of useless for trouble shooting.
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My Art:
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[hansh]

I've *heard* of this being caused by a clogged-up cat. Everytime I've heard about it, it was on a wbx vanagon for some reason. Just my experience, not that it is necessarily a condition exclusive to the waterboxers.

I'd throw a compression check into your intitial diagnostics just to be safe.

Hans

[[email protected]]

I have had several cat. conv. break up while driving. the pieces clog up the outlet to the converter and the inside of the muffler.

Wack the concertor with a rubber mallet, if you hear loose pieces in there, or in the muffler, that's it. Had one so bad it wouldn't make 1500 rpm's, whacked it a couple of times (engine off) and the piece fell back into the cat and I could drive home.
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'65 standard bus
'87 Vanagon Westfalia

[sbclayton]

When you started it back up, did the problem go away? My '91 did the same thing - repeatedly! - on a trip out to CA. When I got it to a dealer in Santa Barbara, he plugged in a "limp home" thingy into the harness at the airbox. It's never glitched since.

Digifant systems have/had a problem with the airdoor wiper arm (the one that acts like a potentiometer) vibrating on the contact tracks, which can cause exactly the symptoms you describe. It's SO weird! When the engine is shut down and restarted, the problem disappears for a while.

There was a post a few months back about this. Just wish I could remember who/what/when!

I'll send if I can find....
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Steve - Tampa Bay Area
Original Owner (12/1990) of
NavDog, a 91 Carat

Enlightenment came when I realized that any time in my life I was having fun, it was somehow connected with owning a Volkswagen.

[TeamSpatula]

Yes, more info please! That does sound close to what happened. The first time it happened, I pulled off the road, shut everything down, went to look at the engine...when I started it back up, I was fine getting up through the gears out onto the highway, but after I got almost up to speed, I could almost feel it bogging down like that. . I pulled off a couple times to make sure things were alright, and every time it was like that. Please let me know what you can find on that.
thanks,
_________________
<---Air Cooled Search & Rescue Team - STICKERS & T-shirts for sale!
1981 Diesel Rabbit
I NEED A CAMPER!!!! (1971 is ideal but will consider other years)
http://www.TeamSpatula.com

[WestyNoobie]

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/gary2a/rack/afmharness/afmharness.htm

Technical Bulletin Group: 24 Number: 92-01 Date: February 29, 1992 Subject: Vanagon Intermittent Misfire Model(s): All Vanagon Digifant Fuel Injection Engines CONDITION After driving for 1/2 to 2 hours at a constant speed, vehicle experiences lack of power, cuts-out or stalls, often accompanied by bucking or jerking of the vehicle. In ALL cases, the vehicle will restart immediately. This symptom may not re-occur for several weeks/months. Inspection by the dealer results in nothing conclusive. Some air-flow meters may experience a vibration resonance of the metering potentiometer wiper during extended constant driving. This resonance causes the air-flow meter to supply an intermittent signal to the Digifant ECU. The ECU will then default to a "no-load" condition and reduce the injection time. SERVICE Harness, Part No. 025 906 302, is available to resolve this condition. * remove electrical connector from air flow sensor (see Figure 24-174) * install converter assembly, Part No. 025 906 302, between harness and air flow sensor NOTE If customer complaints persist after performing the above repair, contact your Zone Product Support Specialist (TSM in Canada)
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85 westy 02 TDI

[mightyart]

well there ya go! heres the part:
http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=025906302A
Glad I got an aircooled.
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My Art:
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[TeamSpatula]

Noooooooooooooo!!!!!!

now I *really* hope it's a loose vacuum line or something. I'm planning to dig into things this weekend, and see what I can find. Fingers crossed...
_________________
<---Air Cooled Search & Rescue Team - STICKERS & T-shirts for sale!
1981 Diesel Rabbit
I NEED A CAMPER!!!! (1971 is ideal but will consider other years)
http://www.TeamSpatula.com

[DanJReed]

http://www.members.shaw.ca/bilbo/WBafm.html - Its a much cheaper fix, and some swear by it.

Also, Ken at Vanagain has a good article.

http://www.vanagain.com/bucking1.htm

Good luck,
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-Dan
(87 Westy Vanagon, 98 Jetta GLS 2.0, 95 Golf Sport)