Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 11:29:52 -0700
Reply-To: Zoran Mladen <zmaninco@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Zoran Mladen <zmaninco@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: '84 1.9: 3/4 power and running ugly
In-Reply-To: <CGEHKAABPGGIIBCALNJJEECJCIAA.shiva@edcnet.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Two things come to mind...O2 sensor and cat.
Try disconnecting the O2 and see if there is a difference.
Hit the cat and listen for rattling sounds. If the internals break down, you experience the exact symptoms you note.
Z
Shiva Polefka <shiva@EDCNET.ORG> wrote:
Hello again-- many thanks to those that replied to my previous post. I
realize I should consider searching the archives more extensively, but I'm
already $300 and many hours in to this problem without any improvements and
would like to be tossed a bone. In advance please pardon the lengthy
narrative and request for help that follow.
My 1984 GL has been maintained attentively and pre-emptively during its
entire 120k. Last month, as i ascended Wyoming's Big Horn Mountains (up to
10000ft) , the engine switched from a smooth running hum to a rougher but
regular throaty purr. The next day, back at 3000ft, the van continued to
make this more ugly sound, and felt like it was running on 3/4 power --> i
couldnt drive faster than 55mph, and it took a long time to get up to that
speed.
Wyoming's local garage monkeys claimed they could fix vanagons. They
replaced the fuel filter, the spark plugs and the distributor rotor, and
claimed the problem was fixed. As soon as i hit the road again however, i
discovered that in fact the problem appeared to have not even been addressed,
with all symptoms essentially unchanged. Needing to return to the job
however (rather than wait any more in WY), i crossed my fingers and
continued, and wound up limping slowly but succesfully all the way back
across the Western states to Southern California.
That experience allowed me to log with some exactitude the symptoms of my
van's malaise, which follow: in the morning, when starting cold, the engine
runs somewhat smooth and fully powered, but displays the infamous chugging to
a significant degree. After ~5minutes of running (after the thermostat opens
up?) power drops off dramatically, and the engine switches from smooth hum to
throaty purr. In fourth gear, at ~50mph, the "miss-y" (but regular)
throatyness and diminished power are particulary acute, and getting above
this speed is really difficult. A long hill here in town that used to be
ascended in 3rd gear at 35 is now a humiliating second gear, ~20mph
experience.
Once this apparently temperature-induced transition occurs, lurching/chugging
ceases. A couple times while at highway speed, i've felt a temporary surge
as throatiness disappears and full power resumes. each time this lasted a
couple seconds, no more.
My local mechanic, who is widely considered trustworthy and experienced, was
unable to figure it out. He changed the sparkplug wires and added German
fuel-injector cleaner, to no effect. If memory serves, his compression test
yieled 165 on two cylinders and 135 on the others.
My internet searching has lead me to suspect my air flow meter, dirty
grounding wire attachments, a need for a $190 "wiring harness," or a vacuum
leak issue. Any clues as to where to look next would be -greatly-
appreciated. Thanks in advance-- my combination of frustration and love
evoked by my van makes me really look forward to getting it back up to full
speed.
sp.
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