Re: IAC Visits The Twin 71 White Westys in Hood River
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2016 10:50 am
Just back from an epic 1300 miles of a coastal and back roads trip to Pistol River, OR. I do this trip annually but took a lot of extra back roads on this one.
One correction to my earlier post is that it's Bus 1 that has the electrical issue and not Bus 2. Bus 2 is dialed and I'm probably taking it on our annual family road trip and leaving next Thursday. We are either going to Bryce Canyon or if it's not too hot we'll go to Yosemite.
More detail on the issue with Bus 1.
As mentioned, I've put about 3000 miles on it this spring, mainly around town but also a few 100 mile trips. It seems to run just great in general. (choke sticks a bit but other wise runs great). However when you turn the key I usually get a couple of just "clicks" before it generally engages after the second or third try. It also takes longer to start. It will turn over several times before it fires up, generally. Sometimes it starts right away. Mornings it will generally start right away, run a bit cold and then once warmed up, runs great. Every time I start it though it sounds like I have a weak battery. Battery hasn't died yet but it just sounds weak when turning it over.
When I started having problems, they were the exact same ones I had a year ago and had to get towed home. I think the condenser blew out on the first one and I bet it's blown again now. I haven't gone out to look at it much since I just got home but that's my guess.
While driving back from the Woodburn VW show (100 or so miles each way) it started to hiccup a bit and then I had to pull over quickly because I could not longer hold speed. To me it acted like my points has closed up. It would backfire anytime I let off the gas. I pulled over and adjusted the points and thought I had it fixed and jumped back on the freeway. I could get up to speed but if I floored it I could feel the bucking and so I just kept the gas peddle steady and crossed my fingers and I make it another 30 miles or so, almost home, but couldn't make it up the last hill. It just sputtered and then died. I let it cool a bit and checked the points, they seemed fine. I got it started again and was less then a mile from home, I took a different way to avoid most of the hill and made it home. It died in the driveway and it hasn't started since. I will probably go out and replace the condenser and see if it will start this evening.
So the problem isn't in the engine at all. I have a new engine in there now and the engine that was in there when the problem started is now in Bus 2 and has no issues. It's not the starter, solenoid, generator or the battery, I have replaced them all with good working units. I have replaced all cables, ground straps ,etc. None of this has made any difference. I think it may be in the ignition switch its self. I have replaced the switch once when small piece broke off, I can't think of what else it could be. To me it acts like a bad ground. It must be partially grounded because I was able to put some miles on it before this happened. I don't think it's fuel related because of the weak starting issue. Fuel has a new filter, lines etc and I've put a lot of miles on Bus 1 and never had any crap coming out of the tank.
This all started after a 1200 mile winter road trip where we drove through some pretty wet snow and then it all froze solid for a few days. Hasn't been the same since. I'm sure its real simple once I figure this out but so far it's stumped me for a year now! Bus 1 has about 6k on the long block and 3k on the heads. I'd like to put some more miles on Bus 1 again.
I only have a few days before we leave again so I may not dig into it much but I'll get into it a bit. I also have a very wobbly generator pulley. This is another issue that needs sorted out but the electrical issue is the one that is most pressing.
One correction to my earlier post is that it's Bus 1 that has the electrical issue and not Bus 2. Bus 2 is dialed and I'm probably taking it on our annual family road trip and leaving next Thursday. We are either going to Bryce Canyon or if it's not too hot we'll go to Yosemite.
More detail on the issue with Bus 1.
As mentioned, I've put about 3000 miles on it this spring, mainly around town but also a few 100 mile trips. It seems to run just great in general. (choke sticks a bit but other wise runs great). However when you turn the key I usually get a couple of just "clicks" before it generally engages after the second or third try. It also takes longer to start. It will turn over several times before it fires up, generally. Sometimes it starts right away. Mornings it will generally start right away, run a bit cold and then once warmed up, runs great. Every time I start it though it sounds like I have a weak battery. Battery hasn't died yet but it just sounds weak when turning it over.
When I started having problems, they were the exact same ones I had a year ago and had to get towed home. I think the condenser blew out on the first one and I bet it's blown again now. I haven't gone out to look at it much since I just got home but that's my guess.
While driving back from the Woodburn VW show (100 or so miles each way) it started to hiccup a bit and then I had to pull over quickly because I could not longer hold speed. To me it acted like my points has closed up. It would backfire anytime I let off the gas. I pulled over and adjusted the points and thought I had it fixed and jumped back on the freeway. I could get up to speed but if I floored it I could feel the bucking and so I just kept the gas peddle steady and crossed my fingers and I make it another 30 miles or so, almost home, but couldn't make it up the last hill. It just sputtered and then died. I let it cool a bit and checked the points, they seemed fine. I got it started again and was less then a mile from home, I took a different way to avoid most of the hill and made it home. It died in the driveway and it hasn't started since. I will probably go out and replace the condenser and see if it will start this evening.
So the problem isn't in the engine at all. I have a new engine in there now and the engine that was in there when the problem started is now in Bus 2 and has no issues. It's not the starter, solenoid, generator or the battery, I have replaced them all with good working units. I have replaced all cables, ground straps ,etc. None of this has made any difference. I think it may be in the ignition switch its self. I have replaced the switch once when small piece broke off, I can't think of what else it could be. To me it acts like a bad ground. It must be partially grounded because I was able to put some miles on it before this happened. I don't think it's fuel related because of the weak starting issue. Fuel has a new filter, lines etc and I've put a lot of miles on Bus 1 and never had any crap coming out of the tank.
This all started after a 1200 mile winter road trip where we drove through some pretty wet snow and then it all froze solid for a few days. Hasn't been the same since. I'm sure its real simple once I figure this out but so far it's stumped me for a year now! Bus 1 has about 6k on the long block and 3k on the heads. I'd like to put some more miles on Bus 1 again.
I only have a few days before we leave again so I may not dig into it much but I'll get into it a bit. I also have a very wobbly generator pulley. This is another issue that needs sorted out but the electrical issue is the one that is most pressing.