Caravelle cutting out. Distributor/Hall sender?

[chano]

Hi,

Thanks again for all the replies.



Took the van out for a longish run over the weekend without any unscheduled stops. However, this morning, i did notice another problem; a small pool of coolant below the oil filter. I started the engine and could see the odd small droplet of coolant land on top of the water pump. Not one hundred per cent sure, but it seemed to be coming from the flywheel/water pump area. I will have a good look at hoses... later today.

Suddenly that used Fiat Marbella in the local paper is looking very tempting.

Alan

[chano]

Just a quick update:

Van has been running okay for the past three months (no cutting out, starting okay). When i tried to start the engine yesterday (from cold, which it has always started without problems) it wouldn't start. Engine turns over, but no signs of it starting. Tried a few times
during the day without success.

As i mentioned in a previous post, i took the van to a mechanic here on Gran Canaria a while ago and he suspects the hall sender. Not
sure how he could confirm this, as the engine was starting and running fine at the time. VW Caravelle spares are a bit thin on the ground here. There are a few Golfs in the local scrappies. Is there a Golf that uses the same distributor?

thanks

Alan

[eric]

Hmmm, when I started reading your thread, I immediately thought `ECU` because I had the same symptoms ie .... cutting out etc. Even the RAC bloke was mystified when suddenly he got the old girl going. I asked him what he did to get her started and he replied "That's the troubling thing ..... NOTHING!"

I subsequently took it to a Tuning outfit and they identified the problem as the ECU malfunctioning.

Enquiries with either Sir Aidan or Lord Simon of Baxter (can't remember whom) led me to CJ of Syncrospares who sent me a second-hand one (£80) and bingo, prob solved.

Bearing in mind the new owner bought CJ's stock, he may have another ECU.

Eric.

[chano]

Thanks, Eric.

I'm going to have a mooch around the scrappies here on Gran Canaria. Not a lot of VW campers/vans but there are number of Golfs. Not sure if there are any electrical/ignition bits (distributor...) that are compatable. Will have a chat with the only VW specialist mechanic on the island before i go.


Alan

[CovKid]

Useless but of info Chano, but did you know the old B&W classic Robinson Crusoe series was shot there? Southern most tip was the location (now heavily built on):

[chano]

Didn`t know that. Did you know that the sea scenes of the original Moby Dick film (starring Gregory Peck) was filmed here in the capital, Las Palmas

[chano]

... still won't start. Engine turns over, but no signs of it starting. Attached a spare plug to one of the leads, placed the plug on the
rocker cover and had someone turn the engine over. No sign of a spark. I assume i should see a spark if the distributor/hall sender is
okay?


Alan

[chano]

After following Bigherb's instructions for testing Hall Sender, I ordered a new Hall Sender from Brickwerks. Following a bit of fiddling
with circlips... fitted the new one this morning and it fired up first time. Hopefully there will be no more cutting out on the motorway.
Fingers crossed. Before removing the distributor, i marked the position, refitting it in exactly the position. Will the timing need resetting? If so, i assume this is a simple task for any half decent mechanic. My nearest mechanic here on Gran Canaria is only
half decent.

Thanks to everyone who helped with all my basic questions.


Alan

[Grun]

Will the timing need resetting? If so, i assume this is a simple task for any half decent mechanic. My nearest mechanic here on Gran Canaria is only
half decent.

Alan,
If your engine is a 2.1DJ the timing depends on the grade of fuel you use.
Standard timing is 10 degrees BTDC with vacuum disconnected but you must then use petrol of 98 octane minimum.
If you use 95 octane then the recommended timing is 5 degrees BTDC vacuum disconnected (both timings done at 800 rpm).
They also say that the idle stabilizing unit should have the two plugs disconnected from the unit and coupled together, and the single connector (squarish shaped) disconnected, while performing the timing check.

Hope this makes sense and can be translated to your half decent mechanic, only wish I could claim to be half decent myself.

Mike

[ramenwasser]

Hi Chano,

Any luck finding de cause of the sudden engine shutdown?
I've got exactly the same problem with a DJ. It's only happening when motor is warm. There's a blinking red light on the dashboard. After 10 minutes stop it drives again like nothing happened.

Changed out the Hallgever but the problem continues.
Wanna try the locking out of the stabilisation unit. is it this one: http://bus-forum.nl/phpBB/download/file.php?id=4455" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

thanks in advance,

Michiel

[Gunslinger]

A hall effect device will let you know it's going... You get about 100 yards of coughing and spluttering and then it's completly gone! It won't come back to life again until it's replaced.
If it's an ignition problem I would check the idle stabalisation device first by unplugging the two connectors from it and plugging them together. It could be a loose connection problem or a fault with the unit.
The connection into the distributor could also be at fault, try giving that a clean.

My van is an Aircooled but I'm sure the principle is the same. My van had a cutting out problem, just died, then 10-15 minutes later restarted no problem. Turned out to be the hall device. Replaced it and problem went away

[daniel50]

I've just blown the cobwebs of my 1990 Caravelle, (2.1 petrol injection LHD) which has hardly moved in the last year. Passed its ITV (Spanish M.O.T. ) last week without any problems. A long standing problem i've had with the van, and about which i've previously written on the forum, is the engine ocassionally cuts out without warning; no coughing or spluttering, just dies. If i try to start the engine immediately after it cuts out it turns over but won't start. Wait 15 minutes or so and it starts and runs fine until the next time it cuts out which can be a week, a month, two months...

I've managed to find a VW "specialst" mechanic here on Gran Canaria and he seems to think it's the distributor/hall sender. I'm having
problems tracking down a used or new distributor here, but was wondering how easy they are to find in the UK as i will be home for a couple of weeks in early May.

Hi ,everybody !for first time my engine (code PP)start v well and stops instantly after 5-6 minutes.NOW i see in what You say on forum the senzor Hall is no good ,are You sure about that ? My car Audi 80-90 B3 since september 1991 engine PP 1595 cmc has an
IDLE STABILISERAND IF IT so HOW DO i RECOGNISE HIM ,WHERE IS IT ????? All the best for You