1984 vanagon hesitation

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

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.

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

Tristen

88 westfalia

Rod,

To join the Vanagon newsgroup go here:

are a very helpfull group of people. It's the kind of group that sendsmail, not like this one. As for your o2 sensor wire. The ecu connector is thebig connector that the wire from the o2 sensor goes to the ECM is ElectronicControl Module. It's a short distance from the ecm and the o2 sensor. If yoursoldering 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 theinsulation between the center signal wire and the outer shield is crumblingfrom 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 threeyears ago was crumbling inner insulation that sometimes shorted the signal toground and other times didn't. That relates to prefect running to real crappyrunning anytime the wire was moved any little bit. Joe R

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

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