1984 vanagon hesitation

[rodd]

About two years ago I blew the exhaust system of my 1984 1.9 litre VW
Vanagon Westfalia on the highway. I rebuilt the entire exhaust system. Ever
since then when the vehicle is moving as I accelerate past 3000 rpm the
engine hesitates causing the van to lurch violently. I suspect it may be a
problem with a sensor or the computer but I really don't know where to
begin.

I have tried everything I can and asked everyone I know on how to solve
this problem and I've paid mechanics to solve this problem without any
results.

I would appreciate any info on how I can go about solving this problem.

sincerely, Rod

[Jo Bo]

The vanagon has some quirks that you must learn and then deal with. I had a 84
1.9L also and it took a long while to get it purring like a kitten. First, did
you replace the o2 sensor? If so did you cut the wire from the ecu and put a
new end on it? If so start there. That wire is a coax cable not a plain wire
and when you cut it you grounded the signal. If this is what you did then you
need to replace the wire as the inner insulation is quite brittle. Radio Shack
has "microphone" cable that works real well. You need to replace it from the
ecu connector on. Then if you didn't replace the o2 sensor do it being aware of
the type of wire on the car. The next area is the MAF sensor (mass air flow).
It needs cleaned adjusted or replaced with a NEW one (read not another used
one). There's also a capacitor fix for the maf that may help. You can't "pay"
to get this problem resolved, you must do it yourself. There's a active Vanagon
group (has gerry in the name) that can give you a lot of help. Join it.

Joe R

"rodd" <ro...@powersurfr.com> wrote in message
news:FPpIc.1008495$Pk3.905063@pd7tw1no...

[rodd]

Joe,
Thanks for the tips. As for the O2 sensor, when I removed the old one it
was already connected with a single wire spade connecter. All I did was
crimp the existing wire to the new sensor. Was I wrong to do this or was it
installed incorrectly before (as there were no problems with old sensor for
years)? What is the ecu connector? I have the shop manual but it's not very
helpful.

I've heard of the capacitor fix but I need to know what capacitors I
should get so I can try it. Again I appreciate your input.

,Rod
P.S. I'm unable to locate that newsgroup you wrote about. I don't think that
my ISP offers it. Thanks again.

"Jo Bo" <jro...@columbus.rr.com> wrote in message
news:uVtIc.203618$DG4....@fe2.columbus.rr.com...

[Tristen S]

Hi Rodd

I've done the Capasitor fix on my previous 87 van and fixed the
problem just fine though read through this you may get more ideas.
check here

http://www.vanagonauts.com/index.phtml?catid=115

Tristen

88 westfalia

"rodd" <ro...@powersurfr.com> wrote in message news:<FPpIc.1008495$Pk3.905063@pd7tw1no>...

[Jo Bo]

Rod,

To join the Vanagon newsgroup go here: http://gerry.vanagon.com/
They are a very helpfull group of people. It's the kind of group that sends
mail, not like this one. As for your o2 sensor wire. The ecu connector is the
big connector that the wire from the o2 sensor goes to the ECM is Electronic
Control Module. It's a short distance from the ecm and the o2 sensor. If your
soldering skills are up to par it's a simple job replacing the wire. If not,
don't try it, get some one that can solder wires. It's very possible the
insulation between the center signal wire and the outer shield is crumbling
from age. Examine carefully the end of the wire that plugs into the sensor.
There maybe heat shrink tubing on it, but what I found on my 84 vanagon three
years ago was crumbling inner insulation that sometimes shorted the signal to
ground and other times didn't. That relates to prefect running to real crappy
running anytime the wire was moved any little bit.

Joe R

"rodd" <rod...@shaw.ca> wrote in message news:KvLIc.3969$ek5.2118@pd7tw2no...

[rodd]

Again thanks for the help guys. I think I'm narrowing it down to where
I can solve this thing once and for all!

regards, Rod
"Tristen S" <triste...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1f9492e8.04071...@posting.google.com...

[rodd]

Problem solved!
After trying everything imaginable, I've fixed the thing that has
dogged me for so long. The answer is......ECU. I tried another one a friend
of mine just happened to have on his shelf and it worked. So he gave it to
me. Felt sorry for me or something like that. Anyway it's fixed. Who'd of
thunk it.

,Rod

"rodd" <rod...@shaw.ca> wrote in message

news:%wnJc.23009$Mr4.17986@pd7tw1no...