Does the problem go away if you turn off the engine for a few minutes?
If it does then you probably have Vanagon syndrome.
If it does then you probably have Vanagon syndrome.
> Francesca Coles <fcoles6@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi, Ben. Thanks for that - very useful. That's some depth of experience
> you
> have there!
>
> Perhaps we may have been too quick to jump on the Vanagon syndrome
> bandwagon? It's just that the presentation seemed to be classic VS:
> running
> fine until had been driving for an hour or two at constant highway
> speed,
> then commenced intermittent bucking. I suppose that given Hartmut has
> been
> kind enough to lend us his harness we may as well give that a go first,
> and
> then proceed to your recommended troubleshooting if we get nowhere. Just
> so
> long as it's not VS plus some other issue! But, then again, that's par
> for
> the course with an old girl... My mechanic is also very experienced with
> T3s
> and could no doubt get to the bottom of the issue if I threw it at him,
> but
> better to try and save some cash by attempting some troubleshooting
> ourselves first.
>
> Francesca.
>
> On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 11:29 AM, BenT Syncro <syncro@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Francesca,
> >
> > For what it's worth, most choking and bucking problems I've
> encountered had
> > to do with simple vacuum and exhaust leaks.
> >
> > I have personally owned more than 30 T3's of which the majority had
> the MV
> > (2.1 litre Wasseboxer) engine. All ran fine w/o the harness filter
> > attachment. I'm sure this has been mentioned before. Finding the
> vacuum
> > leaks are relatively easy. I spray carburetor cleaner over all the
> hose
> > connections and especially around the large intake hoses going in and
> out of
> > the AFM housing. There is a noticeable change in idling
> characteristics once
> > the leak has been temporarily blocked by the spray of liquid. Do take
> some
> > precautions as most carb cleaners are flammable.
> >
> > The most difficult to trace problem i encountered which presented
> itself as
> > "Vanagon syndrome" was exhaust related. I am not sure how this applies
> to
> > you. I found an exhaust leak upstream from the Oxygen sensor. I
> initially
> > thought the sensor was at fault. Changed the exhaust gasket eliminated
> the
> > dilution of the exhaust sample passing over the sensor.
> >
> > During that process, I obtained AFM's ECU's, patch harnesses... etc.
> In the
> > end, it was basic automotive troubleshooting. I casual query with my
> mate
> > who owns a shop which services an average of 5 T3's a day (5 days a
> week
> > time 52 weeks) revealed that the so called Vanagon syndrome has been
> > remedied with the harness patch once or twice per year at his shop.
> That
> > translates to 2/1300. Or less than 0.15% of the T3's serviced there. I
> can't
> > say the figures are exact as the remarks were annecdotal. There are
> days
> > when there two dozen T3's there but some have alternative powerplants.
> > Nevertheless, the suggestion is to look for basic problems before
> assuming
> > the problem is a bum AFM or the need for the harness patch or
> capacitors as
> > a signal filter.
> >
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > BenT
> >
> > Sent from my T3 w/ an AFM
> >
> > On Jul 10, 2010, at 6:00 PM, Francesca Coles < <fcoles6@gmail.com>
> > fcoles6@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks for the thought, Greg. And thanks a whole lot, Hartmut.
> >
> > It would be lovely if fitting the harness solves the bucking/choking
> > problem. I'd be happy enough to fork out good money for a new one if
> it
> > does. Of course the problem could be caused by something else not so
> > amenable to diagnosis or a cheap fix. Fingers crossed, however....
> There
> > have been a couple of times when the choking has been a little
> alarming, say
> > pulling out into traffic and she won't get up and go.
> >
> > Francesca.
> >
> >
> >