Date:         Mon, 4 Oct 1999 08:15:01 -0700
Reply-To:     Roger Bowman <bowmanrp@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Roger Bowman <bowmanrp@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Digifant mysteries...
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Greetings.

During my recent digifant follies, I uncovered some mysteries that my
research has not clarified.  you may recall my description of some
intermittent "cut-out" problems, during which the tach would fall to "0"
rpms and the engine would stop producing power - similar to a digifant ECU
failure of recent past.  This failure went 100% recently, and me and the van
were towed home.

Replacement of the ECU did not correct the problem.  After some
troubleshooting, I discovered that the entire ECU/FI circuit was not
receiving any power.

Tracing power back from the ECU, to the "wire distribution box" (located at
the left rear of the engine compartment) and then back to the alternator, I
discovered that the death-grippin' crimp that joins the wire from the
started to the FI harness at the alternator had lost conductivity.  Even
though the crimp was still tight, tight, TIGHT! no current or voltage was
available to the ECU and FI harness.  I uncrimped, cut and stripped then
soldered the conductors to the ring terminator for the alternator, and now
all is well.

Please emphasize early in your digifant diagnostic routine:  Check for power
supply.  Check the post in the "wire distribution box" for voltage.

Some other questions regarding other mysteries:

1.)  Inside the "wire distribution box" I found a fuse holder with a 5 amp
fuse.  A brief review of the schematic did not show me what this fuse is
for.  Anyone else know?

2.)  I also discovered a single wire, brown in color, running out of the
harness near the thermostat, across the engine near the distributer and down
the front of the engine to some sort of sensor or something located near the
main pulley on the left side of the motor - where it appears to be just
about impossible to change in situ.  again, a quick review of the Bentley
did not prove enlightening.  Anyone else know what this wire leads to?


Roger Bowman - bowmanrp@ earthlink.net
Live Smart.  Think for Yourself.  Transform the Future