94 AAZ in 87 Vanagon Died on Highway

[iceneweb]

Hi all,

A few days ago my 87 Vanagon with a 94 AAZ died on the highway. It would crank, I had fuel, but it wouldn't even try to start.

Got home, inspected the t belt, lined up TDC, the timing slot on the camshaft, and the hole in the IP sprocket: All looked good. I cant properly check the IP timing until I get the adaptor for my dial gauge, but it cant be far off.

I've got fuel at the injectors.

Next things to check is the turbo. What else can I look at? What else could it be? There's not even any weird noises. I'm stumped.

Mark
Vancouver BC

[vanbcguy]

Pretty weird...  A bad turbo won't stop the engine from running so you can rule that out. A completely blocked air intake could do it. No smoke when cranking?

[iceneweb]

I know, this I very strange. No smoke when cranking.

There was no cloud of smoke when it died. No loud noises. It turns over. Oil and coolant are full.

With the injector pipes off the distributor I can see evenly spaced fuel flow for each injector. Looks a bit weak though. I have another IP to try the fuel solenoid from.

[iceneweb]

Upon further investigation:

- Had a look down the side of the pump, and found the cold start lever pulled up. There is no cable attached, but I pushed it down a bit with a screwdriver anyway.

- Turbo compressor felt a little 'sticky' to turn, quite a but of play in the shaft, and oil dripped from the rubber intake (from air cleaner) after I pulled it off.

- vacuum pump is loose, and the hold down bolt hole is stripped.

- she started, but very lumpy. Lots of blow by from the breather. Cracked off each injector in turn, to find that no 4 is completely dead (ie no change in rpm)

I suppose the next step is to remove the cylinder head? Is it easier yo leave the inlet and exhaust manifolds attached?

[vanbcguy]

Ohhhhhh that's bad. The vacuum pump drives the oil pump, if it came lose you had a no oil pressure scenario most likely.

Compression check and oil pressure test first.

[dontdoemyourself]

I had a problem when I first bought my AAZ Vanagon in that when I would fill up with fuel it would run and drive fine then all of the sudden sputter and die.. A mechanic I found on the road trip home said that maybe my fuel system vents weren't working properly.. Anything sound similar ?