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Volkswagen Vanagon
Repair Questions and Answers

Question: 1985 Volkswagen
Vanagon mileage: 95,000. A friend who owns
his own shop for VW repair asked me to look at a problem
Vanagon. I showed up blind, not knowing the complete
story. He has replaced both cylinder heads after
rebuilding the engine last year. The customer claims the
rich running problem started after the heads were
replaced. I've worked for dealers for 20+ years, and
after examining the vehicle, I have pretty much ruled
out a fuel injection problem of any kind. The symptom is
the CO and HC get richer as the vehicle gets hotter, but
I am troubled by the low engine vacuum, 10 inches at
idle, and sometimes goes to 13 inches. This is obviously
way low, and the vehicle has no cat or exhaust
restriction that I can find. The co is 10% + with
extremely high HC, but this cycles, and co drops to
about 3-4% randomly. The fuel pressure and temperature
sensors both read good, and disconnecting the O2 sensor
makes no difference. My friend has also replaced every
fuel injection component with known good parts, with no
difference in performance. My buddy has been a vw tech
for 30 years, and has spent 4 months attempting to
repair this vehicle. I was stumped also, but keep coming
back to an engine problem, such as valve adjustment, but
when I explained the correct adjustment procedure, he
claimed to have done it properly. Have you guys got any
ideas?
Answer: Check the compression on the
engine. You may have some late valve timing. Also, check
ignition timing and ignition advance. Double check to
make sure the engine temperature sensor is functioning
properly.\
Question:
1987 VW Vanagon mileage: 120,000. Well here
goes nothing. Our van does this problem only when it’s
cold out just to let you know. I will be driving
on the highway doing around 60 to 70 and then all of a
sudden the van will start to hesitate. I will give
it gas and no go let off then it will pick up then start
to hesitate, come off the highway come to stop.
The van will stall restart and the van drives away.
Sometimes it hesitates some times it doesn’t.
Also, when we come to a complete stop at stop sign go to
take off the van bogs for about 10 to 20 seconds then
takes off. We are also using more fuel then
normal. Changed everything for tune-up that we can
think off even new wires (spark) still have problem also
new fuel pump if you can help us out we would really be
grateful for your help its been 3 cold long winters in
Pa. and were going on our 4th so please respond ASAP.
Answer:
We think that a faulty ignition pick-up coil and/or
ignition module could have failed. The problem could be
the little green plastic box 2 x 2 inches in size called
Idle Stabilizer. It is mounted on the driver side
in engine compartment and is one of the electrical
components with distributor and Hall sensor that
controls the ignition and timing.

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