Hello all,
I also have problem with my Digifant setup.The engine starts all
right and the idle is ok. However when I drive off it feels a bit
jerky for a better word, and when I have to stop, the engine stalls.
It also runs very,very rich. I did some electrical testing as per Bentley.
The Temp.Sensor 1 & 2, Air Flow Sensor, Oxygen Sensor, Throttle
Switch all good. I have booked the Van in for next week I hope they
can fix whatever needs to be done.
PS I see myself more and more looking at other options.
Cheers, Theo
Ninety percent of problems are caused by a bad earth.
Five minutes spent cleaning the earth connections might solve all your problems. Do it once a year, or more often if you drive on the beach.
Add an extra earth strap from one cylinder head to the other.
Short circuits in the ignition system and plug wires can be seen if you lift the engine lid on a dark night.
If that doesn't work, get some 'contact cleaner', emery paper, a small wire brush and a set of fine files, and gently clean every connection in the engine bay and battery compartment.
Closely examine every wire and connector for breaks and insulation cracks.
Check every vacuum hose for leaks.
Grab the multimeter and the Bentleys Manual and check every component.
Or buy a VanCafe 8691V diagnosis kit. It's a ripper, and can be left permanently attached for diagnosis on the run.
The throttle position switch is a notorious offender, as is the water temperature sender.
Recondition and re-shim the distributor every five or ten years. It's a simple job that takes about an hour.
Four or five hours in the shed should sort it all out.
Good luck - Roger Beetle
Thanks for the advice about the brakes. I have contacted 'Smallcar' in the U.S. for a shipping quote on a 'big brake kit', but it will probably be cheaper to source the parts locally and follow David Marshall's instructions on Syncro.ca.
Do a visual on the vacuum hoses first - if they are perished, split or swollen, replace them.
You can buy or hire a vacuum pump, and watch the gauge to see if the component holds vacuum, but because we are talking low pressures you can do it the old fashioned way; if you can suck a thick-shake through a straw, you can suck hard enough to emulate engine vacuum.
Just remove each hose, plug one end with your finger, and suck to see if it leaks.
Have a packet of lifesavers handy to cover the aftertaste.
Take off the dissie cap and suck on the hose to the vacuum advance unit. The distributor base-plate should swivel several millimetres.
To test for leaks in the vacuum brake-booster circuit, run the engine, then switch off and make several applications of the footbrake. If all is well, you should have enough vacuum stored in the booster for two or three brake applications before you notice a change in the feel of the pedal.
I'd still be suspecting that pesky temperature sensor.
I assume that you've already checked out the spark plugs, leads, dissy cap, rotor button, and compression.
If you really get stuck the best thing to do is swap components from another vehicle until you isolate the culprit. Do you have anyone local to do that with?
I had a similar problem with a mate's T3. Took us ages to discover that one of the low-tension wires to the distributor was broken, and making intermittent contact.
Vic Brkovic told me of a customer's car that faltered occasionally when negotiating speed humps. He had a lot of keys on his keyring, and when they swung like a pendulum the ignition cut in and out. A new ignition barrell and a few less keys solved it.
Keep me posted.
Roger Beetle
Ken,
Today I had a trial run my old AFM. The screws are certainly very
tight. The first one came out ok, the second one the head broke off,
the third one I stripped the head but I got it out. I was using a
soldering iron which obviously has not enough heat. So I bought a
fine gas torch
and capacitor for the real job. I moved the circuit board a bit to
find a clean track but the numbers did not change much.
Does any one know what they should be? The Bentley only states " move
air flow sensor - change in resistance".
At the moment I can't go for a drive,the gas people are digging holes
in the driveway. At least an easier job than the oil or water pump.
Cheers, Theo