1969 Westy - Engine Dies In Reverse

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coilette
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1969 Westy - Engine Dies In Reverse

Post by coilette » Thu Nov 06, 2008 10:59 pm

So that's my problem. When I put my bus into reverse, she dies. She drives fine in all forward gears. I have never had a problem with going into reverse (although she does pop out from time to time) but as I am shifting, right as she hits the spot, she just stops.
Any hints?
everything has a balance

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Randy in Maine
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Post by Randy in Maine » Fri Nov 07, 2008 5:06 am

Is it possible the back up lights are wired to the wrong terminal at the coil?

Should look sort of like this (from a beetle)...



Image
79 VW Bus

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coilette
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Post by coilette » Fri Nov 07, 2008 6:37 am

It actually is a possibility. I'll try it out and let you know, thank you!!!!
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Hippie
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Post by Hippie » Fri Nov 07, 2008 4:07 pm

Randy in Maine wrote:Is it possible the back up lights are wired to the wrong terminal at the coil?
Brilliant!

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Randy in Maine
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Post by Randy in Maine » Fri Nov 07, 2008 4:55 pm

Hippie wrote:
Randy in Maine wrote:Is it possible the back up lights are wired to the wrong terminal at the coil?
Brilliant!
Hardly. I have done that myself. I walked to work for 2 days until I figured it out. :geek:

By the way.....Coil Markings...

"1" = "-"
"15" = "+"
79 VW Bus

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coilette
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Post by coilette » Fri Nov 07, 2008 7:33 pm

The reverse lights were left unhooked by a lazy mechanic :( and she wouldn't start. I saw the wire and a place on the coil... just by coincidence, she started next try (I think the cold, wet Oregon coast the night before just got to her). Before work this morning, I unhooked it again and problem solved! Tthanks guys :) (still no lights though)
everything has a balance

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Hippie
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Post by Hippie » Sat Nov 08, 2008 1:31 pm

Glad it's running, but I'm not clear. It starts with or without the light wire hooked up?

vdubyah73
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Post by vdubyah73 » Sun Nov 09, 2008 5:51 am

If the B/U light wire is hooked to the same terminal as the points on the coil, it will start and run fine till you put it in reverse, the power draw of the lights kill the power to the points which kills the spark.
1/20/2013 end of an error
never owned a gun. have fired a few.

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Hippie
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Post by Hippie » Sun Nov 09, 2008 6:54 am

Yah, that makes sense. I guess I can't figure out what the final result was from their post though.

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Amskeptic
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Post by Amskeptic » Sun Nov 09, 2008 1:02 pm

We need, as we need with all posts to the technical forums, year and model info. The FI buses have double relay power supply alongside the reverse light inline fuse. There are known instances of reverse light grounding killing the FI voltage supply.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles

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coilette
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Post by coilette » Mon Nov 10, 2008 7:12 pm

The final result was I unhooked the reverse lights and she worked. It was hooked to the wrong place and, like what was said, she would run fine, but die in reverse



(and shes a '69 Westy with a 1776, sorry Colin :) )
everything has a balance

denjohn
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Post by denjohn » Tue Nov 11, 2008 7:21 am

coilette wrote: (still no lights though)
On a '71, the lights are connected to the 15/+ side of the coil.
There is also an inline fuse.

edit: Bentley shows '69 to be the same.
Peace
'71 bus, stock running gear ex SVDA and pertronix

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