Date:         Tue, 24 Jul 2007 06:36:09 -0600
Reply-To:     Paul Chubbuck <paul@TAKINGFLIGHT.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Paul Chubbuck <paul@TAKINGFLIGHT.NET>
Subject:      Re: Vapor lock? Static electricity? Help!
In-Reply-To:  <001501c7cded$3c322150$b49663f0$@net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I wrote below incorrectly.  My fuel pump was last replaced 4 years ago, not
4 months ago.  Nonetheless, that seems way too often for my tastes.

Paul

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Paul Chubbuck
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 6:22 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Vapor lock? Static electricity? Help!

To his credit, it was not his idea about the "Vanagon syndrome" but mine I
got from a mechanic friend who didn't have access to the vehicle so probably
wasn't clear on the engine.  But thanks for the clarification.  

After much time and diagnostic effort, my mechanic has duplicated the
problem and diagnosed it as a bad fuel pump...my first conclusion.  I
should've replaced it myself as I would've saved a big repair bill.

Any ideas why my fuel pump would need replacing again after 4 months and
less than 20,000 miles?

Paul

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jake de Villiers
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 9:55 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Vapor lock? Static electricity? Help!

Paul, the AFM capacitor fix has no bearing on your van as your Golf motor is
using a different engine management system.

Maybe you need a better mechanic.

On 7/23/07, Larry or Joan Alofs <alofs@att.net> wrote:
>
> It is incorrect to call this static electricity.  On the list it is
> commonly called vanagon syndrome".  You can find lots about it in the
> archives.
>   VW has indicated that it is caused by a resonance in the AFM which
> after prolonged operation at highway speed sometimes sends garbled
> signals to the ECU, perhaps causing it to drop into "limp home mode"
> momentarily.
>   The adapter or harness that VW produced was priced over $100 and may
> no longer be available.  A less costly and usually effective remedy
> involves connecting a capacitor across two of the AFM terminals.  Search
> the archives for "capacitor fix".
>   You should realize, however, that there are many other possible causes
> for similar symptoms, so not everyone finds relief with these
> prescriptions.
>
> good luck,
> Larry A.
>
>
> Paul Chubbuck wrote:
> > Can anyone tell me where I could find out more about the problem
> mentioned
> > in this archived 1998 Vanagon list communication, referring to an
> adaptor
> > which deals with a static electricity problem and which is supposedly
> > mentioned in a VW tech service bulletin somewhere?
> >
> > Paul in Fort Collins
> > __________________________________________
> > Date:         Mon, 18 May 1998 02:39:08 EDT
> > Reply-To:     Modl6971 <Modl6971@AOL.COM>
> > Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
> > From:         Modl6971 <Modl6971@AOL.COM>
> > Subject:      Re: Hiccups, static electricity, wireharness.
> > Comments: To: calle.fallberg@SWIPNET.SE, Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
> > Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
> >
> > In a message dated 98-05-18 00:50:46 EDT,
calle.fallberg@SWIPNET.SEwrites:
> >
> > << Hi there , Vanagon'ners!
> >  I have a kind of veird problem that I wonder if anyone else has been
> >  suffering, and may have a solution to :-\
> >  I have a -88 vanagon with the 2.1 digifant engine.
> >  Its normally running like a champ but every now and then itīll get
> >  hiccups!
> >  The weirdest thing of it all is that itīs almost always happening when
> >  Iīm out for a little longer drive and the thing that happens is that
> >  after a couple of hours driving at app. 55 mph the engine starts
> >  stalling for about a microsec. at the time.
> >  This could go on for about a minute or two and sometimes it is followed
> >  by a big black exhaust cloud which is cured by restarting the engine a
> >  couple of times but the most common thing is that the "hiccups" stops
> >  and the car runs on like if nothing ever happened.
> >  The Vanagon  has never stopped permanently so itīs only a minor problem
> >  but nevertheless a f******g anoying one!
> >  Any ideas ????
> >  Calle Fallberg, Mullhyttan Sweden
> >  -88 Vanagon, -79 Saab 99, four Belgian Shepherd dogs and a wife
> >   >>
> > There was a tech bulletin on this 6 years ago. The problem you are
> having is
> > static electricity building up in your air-flow meter causing your exact
> > runability problem. The fix, is a small adaptor that plugs into your
> airflow
> > meter and the connector to your airflowmeter. Also you need to ground
> your
> > airflow meter to a good ground, like the fire wall with a piece of wire,
> > easy
> > to do. I don't have the part number for the adaptor. Call the parts dep
> at
> > the
> > dealer. If they don't know what the hell you are talking about, talk to
> a VW
> > tech at the dealer first ( that knows about this adaptor). If that
> doesn't
> > work, post the question for that part on this list. Michael M. 87
> syncro.
> >
> >
>



-- 
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
www.crescentbeachguitar.com