Date:         Wed, 1 Jul 1998 23:31:58 PDT
Reply-To:     Sean Bartnik <bartnik@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Sean Bartnik <bartnik@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      FI Weirdness -- please help
Comments: To: type2@type2.com
Comments: cc: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain

Hey all,
I copied this note to Vanagon.com because I know one of the FI experts
on the list, Tom Young, is there.

We are still trying to start Steve Dolan's '73 Bus with '78 FI engine.
It has not started since it was re-installed in the Bus, though it
certainly tries.

Here's what we have found.  We presume at least part of the problem to
be electrical and in the FI wiring.

When we turn the key to start, the engine cranks normally.  It may catch
and run for a second or two and then will die.  However, when it dies,
the fuel pump will strangely stay running.  EVEN WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED
TO "OFF" AND EVEN WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED from the ignition lock.  Note
that the pump will not start running when the key is "on." The starter
must operate first, then once the starter has operated, the fuel pump
will remain on regardless of ignition switch position until the battery
is disconnected.

We found while trying to figure this out:
The fuel pump will also quit if the AFM plug is unplugged (with the
ignition key off) and the same result is obtained if the ECU plug is
unplugged.  We expect there is some sort of power feedback loop running
thru the double relay, though we are having a bit of trouble finding out
where it's coming from.  Note that there is some somewhat flakey wiring
on the fuel pump side of the double relay wiring harness.  We will take
that down next time and inspect for short circuits, etc.  That's a
distinct possibility.  Other options include a possibly bad ECU.  We
have both an AFM and ECU to swap in and test with.

We found that all wiring appears to be in the right place.  The wiring
to the starter is all good and all other FI wiring appears to be OK.
I know this is really weird but if anyone has anything helpful we'd
appreciate it.  The thing I'm most curious about is why we have power in
the system even with the key off and removed.

Thanks


Sean Bartnik
Fairfax, Virginia
============================
'81 Vanagon L Westfalia
'74 Karmann Ghia convertible


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