Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2000 07:26:59 -0400
Reply-To: Bulley <gmbulley@bulley-hewlett.com>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bulley <gmbulley@bulley-hewlett.com>
Subject: Re: $300 reward for advice
Eddie-
No offense, but it sounds like your assortment mechanics either:
a) don't have much experience with Vanagons
b) don't own a Bentley manual or a Haynes manual
c) don't use a methodological approach to diagnosis
d) all of the above.
There is never a need to randomly replace expensive items (like the control
unit); these guys are using the "let's try this..." method of diagnosis,
and I'd bet your MasterCard shows it. In a nutshell, a motor requires three
things to run:
1) mechanical well-being (you have this)
2) proper ignition (you probably have this)
3) proper fuel metering (this may be your problem)
When one of the above ceases to work, it leaves clues. Instead of guessing,
monitor closely the system in question during the failure to determine WHAT
is failing. For example, you don't mention whether or not the fuel pump
stops at 30 seconds, or whether the ignition stops. Does the fuel pressure
drop sharply after you turn the ignition switch from START to RUN? If it is
the fuel pump that shuts down, does the relay shut it down? If the relay is
shutting down, continue to back-track from there.
If these mechanics are the best in your area, you may be better off to do
some of this diagnosis yourself. Obviously, this list is at your service...
then, perhaps you can donate your $300 to the list kitty in anticipation of
our next cpu meltdown.
G. Matthew Bulley, Principal Consultant
Bulley-Hewlett Corporate Communications
Mount Olive, NC USA
877.658.1278 Tollfree
www.bulley-hewlett.com
My Agenda: Vanquish Suburban Sprawl.
My Methods: Revitalize mature urban towns. Champion mass transit and fast
Internet service. Demand replacement of archaic, "separationist" zoning
laws with neo-traditional mixed-use zoning.
The Result: Exceptional living/working alternatives; restrained sprawl; our
children inherit walkable, beautiful, interlinked towns. Find out more at
http://www.cnu.org
-----Original Message-----
From: Pat Horrocks [SMTP:FoxhntrPat@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2000 12:49 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: $300 reward for advice
Eddie must not know of our beloved List, so please reply to him... -P
All:
I am offering this to anyone who comes up with the correct answer to this
starting problem. It has the local VW place stumped, as well as about 8
local mechanics.
Here goes:
When you first start this 1987 VW vanagon camper, it runs fine for about 30
seconds, then dies.
Continually cranking doesn't do anything for about 10 minutes, but then if
you floor the accelator, and continue cranking, the motor will start again,
and runs fine until you turn it off again. Other than that, the machine is
immaculate condition.
The mechanics have replace the control unit, fuel pump, ignition switch,
ignition wires, temp sensors. No problem
My name is Eddie Mikell, and you can respond. I am serious about the
offer,
and am will to pay by check, or mo.
Give it your best shot!
Eddie Mikell
From: "Eddie Mikell" <mikell@virginia.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2000 12:16:18 -0400
Organization: University of Virginia
