engine splash shield for a vanagon?

[vanagonjohn]

Hi everyone.  Over the last couple of months I have been working on my vanagon rebuilding the engine and other things that have needed to be fixed.  Now that the weather is getting better I have been driving the van more and have noticed that when it rains that it runs rough.  Being that I have spent almost all my money on the engine I don't have at this time money to fix the electrical system. I wanted to know if anyone has ever made a splash guard, shield, whatever you want to call it to keep rain out of the engine compartment.  thanks for any help



john

[Vanagonjr]

You probably only need new wires and/or a distributor cap.  

I'd try these.  If they don't solve the problem, they are good as spares anyway.

John

[vanagonjohn]

You know the kick in the pants is that i already changed the wires and cap.  I thought that the wires were the problems and changed them out so having the spares are nice.  I'm thinking that the splash guard will help keep water off the wires.

[Vanagonjr]

Hmmm... I belive the wires most exposed to the rain splash are those connecting to the oxygen sensor.  Take a look at the O2 sensor and see if the connection looks sound.

there maybe a connector farther up this wire that may be a source of the problem.



Just a couple of ideas.



John

[vanagonjohn]

Before I replaced the exhaust this was one of the problems.  So when I went through my check list of things to replace and with the new exhaust went in a new o2.  I thought for sure that this was going to fix the problem.  I sprayed the entire wire and just about everything else with silcone spray.  Well its still missing/stalling.  

The missing/stalling was not my only problem I was having.  I went through and fixed...

-heads

-exhaust

-o2

-clutch w/ master cilinder

-fuel system tank, lines, pump, filter, relay

-wires, cap, plugs

-cleaned grounds

-battery



So this is some of what has been done the last couple of months



ps I drive an 85 westy weekender

[MrLiMBO]

You should check the connection at the O2 sensor.  The green wire is a coaxial wire. Meaning there is a wire inside the wire.  



The inner wire sends the signal to the ECU and the outer wire is a grounding shield.  The inner wire fatigues and exposes the wire to the outer wire. Then they short out causing a rich and ruff running engine.



Yours may not be bad enough to cause a short all the time, but the water may exaserbate the problem.  



My suggestion,  strip back both wires  the outer farther back than the inner. Then put on a new end on the inner.  Then see how it runs.   Good luck.

[vanagonjohn]

First I want to thank all of you for checking this out and helping.  After a couple of wet days I started the van up and again with the stalling/missing.  I looked the o2 over and over.  The next step for me was pushing that van over a clif (I'm only part way serious).  I again talked to one of my friends that work on late model VW's and he said to bring it down to the shop and he would go over it.  I love this van and could not live without it.  As soon as I find out whats up I'll let you all know.



thanks



john

[MrLiMBO]

Something popped into my head. I heard someone once had a simlar problem and it turned out to be the wires that run to the distributor from the control unit.  Check for frayed and poorly grounded wires there.

[vanagons]

John,

I've read the messages about your splash guard question.

VW installed a splash guard on the O2 sensor at the factory, but 20 years later, they've rusted off, or been removed. Let me know if you want a Bentley photo of it.

The O2 sensor has a tiny "breather" hole in the side, which helps it do its job when it's not wet and blocked.

This is why a lot of people end up replacing the sensor.

You can make one out of a tin can, and although some folks weld it in place around the sensor, you could use a clamp to try it out for your problem.

Good Hunting!

Doug in CT

[vanagonjohn]

Doug,



If you could post or send me a picture that would be great.  I have been putting off getting a bentley because every time I buy one the car gets totaled.  If you can belive me I have had a vanagon,and mk2 and a mk3 golf get crushed soon after buying a manual.  It seems like God's big joke on me.  Buy a manual=crash.  



thanks

john

[vanagons]

John,

Not used to this forum yet, but I attached a photo of the splash guard from ETKA.

Hope it helps,

Doug in CT

[vanagonjohn]

I'll try to make this short for everyone (computer problems).  I made a splash gaurd and a sad looking cover for the O2.  Still the same problems.  The new symptom the van has is black exhaust.  New O2?  I hate to think that the O2 I just got has been the problem all along.  I know, I know you guys have been saying this from the start.  I'm going to get a new one and see what happens.  

I saw that in another forum that someone(sorry I don't remember his name) was having low gas miliage.  People replyed that black exhaust was probally from a bad O2 and causing him problems.  I don't think that I'm having any problems with miliage being that I have not had a chance to drive more then a couple of miles.  The black exhaust is new to me.



Thanks

john

[vanagonjohn]

Egg on my face.  The new O2 solved my problems.  Who would have thought that I would have been sold a bogus 02.  I also got my Bentley manuel (that's one big book).  I was looking around to see if I could find the picture of the cover for the O2 and had no luck.  I just want to thank all of you for helping.



thanks

john

[vanagonjohn]

It's doing it again.  If you would be so nice you can check me out in the tech forum