Search found 792 matches

by gull
Wed Oct 12, 2011 1:55 pm
Forum: Engine
Topic: And... she won't start
Replies: 13
Views: 5241

Re: And... she won't start

The fact that your cold start injector works rules out a problem with the fuel pump or filter. Take the rubber boot off the airflow meter and gently lift the plate while the fuel pumps are running (either jumper the relay, or have someone crank the engine.) You should get fuel spraying out of the in...
by gull
Fri Sep 30, 2011 2:39 pm
Forum: General Car Work
Topic: Breakdown Kit
Replies: 9
Views: 4059

Re: Breakdown Kit

What I like about my "small" tool kit is it all wraps up neatly in a little canvas bag. I don't have to drive around with a toolbox clanking around in the trunk.
by gull
Thu Sep 29, 2011 6:49 pm
Forum: General Car Work
Topic: Breakdown Kit
Replies: 9
Views: 4059

Re: Breakdown Kit

I normally carry an adjustable wrench, pliers, regular and philips screwdrivers, bailing wire, and metal tape, plus jumper cables and the tire change kit. Oh, and an extra quart of oil. Anything I can't fix with that stuff I'm just going to call AAA for. I've jumped many cars with the cables but rar...
by gull
Wed Sep 21, 2011 12:25 pm
Forum: Body & Exterior
Topic: Do I want these trim clips
Replies: 21
Views: 14095

Re: Do I want these trim clips

You are definitely braver than me. The top will be one of the few things we definitely farm out. That's fine too. It's important to know your limitations as a shadetree mechanic. :) I've been doing this for a while now, so jobs with a lot of steps don't frighten me anymore as long as I feel like I ...
by gull
Tue Sep 20, 2011 7:13 pm
Forum: Body & Exterior
Topic: Do I want these trim clips
Replies: 21
Views: 14095

Re: Do I want these trim clips

Replacing the top isn't that bad. I did one of mine this spring, and it took me a good week end. The secret is to take your time and be patient. It is not hard. Between Brians instructions and carefully doing the detailed part of the job, I found it to be a rewarding expierence. Same here, it took ...
by gull
Tue Sep 20, 2011 7:09 pm
Forum: Body & Exterior
Topic: removing glue from door
Replies: 5
Views: 6360

Re: removing glue from door

Goo Gone is probably your best bet. Or very carefully scrape it off with a plastic tool.

I've had some luck with Zippo lighter fluid, but mostly on glue that was still gooey.
by gull
Tue Sep 20, 2011 7:08 pm
Forum: Engine
Topic: Guess what we get to do now?
Replies: 10
Views: 3606

Re: Guess what we get to do now?

StephanieGA wrote:Hubby wants to know if the head has camshaft bearings in it.
As far as I know none of the inline-4 VW engines have cam bearings.

This can be an issue when a warped head is machined; if the cam towers aren't align-bored the cam can bind.
by gull
Tue Sep 20, 2011 7:05 pm
Forum: General Car Work
Topic: Fuel pumps stay on
Replies: 5
Views: 2836

Re: Fuel pumps stay on

Yes.

I also had the pump stay on once when the fuse panel was full of water.
by gull
Fri Sep 09, 2011 12:15 pm
Forum: General Car Work
Topic: The past week in Car repair
Replies: 959
Views: 299604

Re: The past week in Car repiar

I broke one once by hitting a pigeon!
by gull
Thu Sep 08, 2011 7:27 pm
Forum: General Car Work
Topic: Stinky Bunny v.1.6d
Replies: 88
Views: 32339

Re: Stinky Bunny v.1.6d

The main thing is there are 2 red wires out of the damn Rabbit harness, 1 out of the Cabby's harness. Yeah, the Bosch alternators have an internal voltage regulator and use a "one wire" hookup. (Actually two wires, the fat red one for charging current and a thin one for the dash light.) I...
by gull
Thu Sep 08, 2011 2:11 pm
Forum: General Car Work
Topic: Stinky Bunny v.1.6d
Replies: 88
Views: 32339

Re: Stinky Bunny v.1.6d

If you want to convert, then take the pulley off the Motorola Alt, and use it in the Bosch. That's probably the most straightforward way to do it, and lets you keep the stock harness. Last time I needed to do an alt pulley swap (installing the A/C delete pulley on the '88) I took it to NAPA and the...
by gull
Tue Sep 06, 2011 2:17 pm
Forum: Engine
Topic: Frequency control valve voltage
Replies: 1
Views: 1721

Re: Frequency control valve voltage

The signal from the control unit is a square wave that alternates between 0 and some value (12V?); it varies the duty cycle to control the valve. Your DVOM won't react fast enough to read the changes in voltage, so you'll read some intermediate voltage. This is also what you're seeing when you use a...
by gull
Mon Aug 29, 2011 3:44 pm
Forum: Engine
Topic: Automatic = higher oil temps?
Replies: 0
Views: 2637

Automatic = higher oil temps?

I'm noticing the oil temps on my '88 automatic run a lot higher than on my '89 stick shift. The water temperature doesn't seem notably higher, but oil temps are in the 110-120C range in weather where I would see 90-100C on my '89. Is this typical with an automatic? I'm considering whether to get an ...
by gull
Sun Aug 28, 2011 2:12 pm
Forum: Engine
Topic: rough idle and dies
Replies: 4
Views: 6403

Re: rough idle and dies

I would also try disconnecting the O2 sensor temporarily. It may be dying when it goes into closed loop. I once had that problem due to shorted O2 sensor wiring -- took me forever to find.
by gull
Fri Aug 26, 2011 8:06 pm
Forum: Engine
Topic: rough idle and dies
Replies: 4
Views: 6403

Re: rough idle and dies

What year? We need to know if it's a CIS or Digifant car to be much help.

The first thing I would look for is vacuum leaks.