Vanagon Syndrome revisited.

1
Gday ALL,

Ok so I've been reading recent posts as well as archives on this topic
and there seems to be a bewildering array of issues raised over time,
rightly or wrongly, associated with this phenomenon. I can see though
there has been plenty of hair pulling, huge amounts of time and fortunes
spent by dedicated Syncronites trying to resolve this. Has the real
culprit/s been revealed yet? Given that it's still happening, I suspect
not, after 15+ years of trying by so many.

I've recently been following a certain line of enquiry about the T3 2.1
WBX Transporter and to help me with this, I need from those who DO know
about vanagon syndrome symptoms, whether or not the following symptoms
simply but aptly describe it ...

* engine running problems and/or ...

* a sudden loss of power and/or ...

* engine misfiring and/or ...

* engine stalling

If the above are wrong for vanagon syndrome, so be it. If you feel they
are right, I'll continue my line of enquiry. So your comments would be
appreciated right now. TIA. Cheers.

Ken
2
I don't think that there is any mistery to this Ken.

It is caused by a build up of static electricity and causes misfiring. (feels like it is running out of fuel)
Stop the engine for a while and it fixes itself.
Volkswagen knows of the problem and has made an adapter loom for the AFM.
Phill



> Ken <unclekenz@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> Gday ALL,
>
> Ok so I've been reading recent posts as well as archives on this topic
> and there seems to be a bewildering array of issues raised over time,
> rightly or wrongly, associated with this phenomenon. I can see though
> there has been plenty of hair pulling, huge amounts of time and fortunes
> spent by dedicated Syncronites trying to resolve this. Has the real
> culprit/s been revealed yet? Given that it's still happening, I suspect
> not, after 15+ years of trying by so many.
>
> I've recently been following a certain line of enquiry about the T3 2.1
> WBX Transporter and to help me with this, I need from those who DO know
> about vanagon syndrome symptoms, whether or not the following symptoms
> simply but aptly describe it ...
>
> * engine running problems and/or ...
>
> * a sudden loss of power and/or ...
>
> * engine misfiring and/or ...
>
> * engine stalling
>
> If the above are wrong for vanagon syndrome, so be it. If you feel they
> are right, I'll continue my line of enquiry. So your comments would be
> appreciated right now. TIA. Cheers.
>
> Ken
3
Hi Ken,

My Caravelle has been notorious with this. Phil is right though a ten min stop and all is well again. I could almost time when it would happen on a trip from Sydney to the snowfields (a stop at Lake George was always welcome anyway). Yes, feels like its running out of fuel is the best way to describe it. So far though my Syncro does not seem to share the problem.

Best
Murray


-----Original Message-----
From: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com on behalf of plander@optusnet.com.au
Sent: Sun 8/20/2006 6:43 AM
To: Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Syncro_T3_Australia] Vanagon Syndrome revisited.

I don't think that there is any mistery to this Ken.

It is caused by a build up of static electricity and causes misfiring. (feels like it is running out of fuel)
Stop the engine for a while and it fixes itself.
Volkswagen knows of the problem and has made an adapter loom for the AFM.
Phill



> Ken <unclekenz@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> Gday ALL,
>
> Ok so I've been reading recent posts as well as archives on this topic
> and there seems to be a bewildering array of issues raised over time,
> rightly or wrongly, associated with this phenomenon. I can see though
> there has been plenty of hair pulling, huge amounts of time and fortunes
> spent by dedicated Syncronites trying to resolve this. Has the real
> culprit/s been revealed yet? Given that it's still happening, I suspect
> not, after 15+ years of trying by so many.
>
> I've recently been following a certain line of enquiry about the T3 2.1
> WBX Transporter and to help me with this, I need from those who DO know
> about vanagon syndrome symptoms, whether or not the following symptoms
> simply but aptly describe it ...
>
> * engine running problems and/or ...
>
> * a sudden loss of power and/or ...
>
> * engine misfiring and/or ...
>
> * engine stalling
>
> If the above are wrong for vanagon syndrome, so be it. If you feel they
> are right, I'll continue my line of enquiry. So your comments would be
> appreciated right now. TIA. Cheers.
>
> Ken
4

Gday ALL, thank you to those who have responded so far to my post on this ... much appreciated. I do encourage any and all other syncronites well versed in this topic to add their tuppence worth as well please. It will help me a lot in deciding whether or not I pursue further my line of enquiry. My sole purpose in all of this is simply to help all us remaining syncronites if I can.

Descriptions of your experiences with VS are very helpful in determining whether or not there exists a likely link to the listed symptoms below. Keep them coming please. Symptoms listed again are ...

* engine running problems and/or ...
* a sudden loss of power and/or ...
* engine misfiring and/or ...
* engine stalling.

In particular, can I emphasise what I really DO need are YES or NO answers as well from each of you as to whether you agree or not that the simple but apt symptoms listed above DO in fact describe the Vanagon Syndrome. If you say NO, then I would appreciate a short explanation why not. Doing so would definitely be helpful in my assessment.

I want to keep this topic rolling for a while if you don't mind so I don't miss anyone willing to contribute. This issue has been with us for 15+ years now, so a few more weeks won't do any harm and will help me a lot in what I decide to do next. Please keep them coming in. I'll keep you all informed of my progress on this of course, but I do need your input first. TIA. Cheers.

Ken

5
Vanagon syndrome only happens if you have been driving for at least a few hours at highway speed and disappears when you turn off the engine for 20 minutes or something.



> Ken <unclekenz@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
> Gday ALL, thank you to those who have responded so far to my post on
> this ... much appreciated. I do encourage any and all other syncronites
> well versed in this topic to add their tuppence worth as well please. It
> will help me a lot in deciding whether or not I pursue further my line
> of enquiry. My sole purpose in all of this is simply to help all us
> remaining syncronites if I can.
>
> Descriptions of your experiences with VS are very helpful in determining
> whether or not there exists a likely link to the listed symptoms below.
> Keep them coming please. Symptoms listed again are ...
>
> * engine running problems and/or ...
> * a sudden loss of power and/or ...
> * engine misfiring and/or ...
> * engine stalling.
>
> In particular, can I emphasise what I really DO need are YES or NO
> answers as well from each of you as to whether you agree or not that the
> simple but apt symptoms listed above DO in fact describe the Vanagon
> Syndrome. If you say NO, then I would appreciate a short explanation why
> not. Doing so would definitely be helpful in my assessment.
>
> I want to keep this topic rolling for a while if you don't mind so I
> don't miss anyone willing to contribute. This issue has been with us
> for 15+ years now, so a few more weeks won't do any harm and will help
> me a lot in what I decide to do next. Please keep them coming in.
> I'll keep you all informed of my progress on this of course, but I
> do need your input first. TIA. Cheers.
>
> Ken
6
Hi Ken

I have always interpreted the Vanagon Syndrome (Digifant) to be that
nasty intermittent fault that is fixed by adding a capacitor to pins
2 & 3 of the air flow sensor.

However I would now happily use the term loosely for any
intermittent fault. At times the digifant can be a real problem in
this regard. VW did not make it easy to isolate faulty sensors,
connections etc.

Here is list of causes / fixes for any unpredictable behavior & not
in any real order.
1. faulty plugs
2. faulty plug leads
3. faulty distributor cap
4. remove / clean all sensor connections
5. remove / clean all ground connections
6. add capacitor across pins 2 & 3 Air Flow Sensor.
7. Add earth wire to AFS case.
8. faulty O2 sensor
9. faulty temp 2 sensor
10. faulty Hall sender
11. remove / clean ECU main connector.
12. test sensor continuity to ECU
13. faulty fuel regulator
14. faulty fuel filter
15. check fuel pressure
16. check vacuum
17. check timing
18. carbon build up on valves
19. Air Flow Sensor carbon track worn, move.
20. Faulty fuel pump relay
21. Faulty ECU power relay
22. Faulty coil & /or connections.
23. & a few other things I haven't thought of.

Personally, I have done all of the above & it was not all that
expensive doing the work myself.
The Syncro now runs like a Swiss clock, with good economy & power.

PK


--- In Syncro_T3_Australia@yahoogroups.com, "Ken" <unclekenz@...>
wrote:
>
>
> Gday ALL,
>
> Ok so I've been reading recent posts as well as archives on this
topic
> and there seems to be a bewildering array of issues raised over
time,
> rightly or wrongly, associated with this phenomenon. I can see
though
> there has been plenty of hair pulling, huge amounts of time and
fortunes
> spent by dedicated Syncronites trying to resolve this. Has the real
> culprit/s been revealed yet? Given that it's still happening, I
suspect
> not, after 15+ years of trying by so many.
>
> I've recently been following a certain line of enquiry about the
T3 2.1
> WBX Transporter and to help me with this, I need from those who
DO know
> about vanagon syndrome symptoms, whether or not the following
symptoms
> simply but aptly describe it ...
>
> * engine running problems and/or ...
>
> * a sudden loss of power and/or ...
>
> * engine misfiring and/or ...
>
> * engine stalling
>
> If the above are wrong for vanagon syndrome, so be it. If you feel
they
> are right, I'll continue my line of enquiry. So your comments
would be
> appreciated right now. TIA. Cheers.
>
> Ken
>
7
I have been put in some dangerous situations when trying to u-turn or the like and there was
no power at the wrong time, I have had the capacitor thing for years but it did not work for
me. I have ordered the part from VW and will install, I have had enough...

I'll keep you all informed.