[T2] Starting problems in 78 VW Bus

[Andrew Burczyk]

Hi George, 

Sounds like a problem wit the fuel injection system "fifth" injector on the central intake manifold that the runners attach to. The extra injector squirts some fuel in to the central intake manifold when the engine is cold to "prime" the engine to make it easier to start when it is cold. It is electrically operated using a thermal relay to control the time that the valve is open. When hot it doesn't squirt much prior to start while when cold it squirts for longer. 

Should be easy to diagnose by back probing the plug on the injector. Check for voltage when the ignition is turned on and that the voltage shuts off after a few seconds when the relay heats itself and shuts out. Also check the ground in the other side of the plug on the injector. If the ground is bad then the injector won't open and you get the same effect. 

This is just what I would chase first based on the symptoms that you describe. 

Andrew Burczyk 

'73 Van 


From: "George Mallia" <georgemallia at gmail.com> 
To: type2 at type2.com 
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2018 3:20:39 PM 
Subject: [T2] Starting problems in 78 VW Bus 

Hello List! 

I have a 78 Bay Window Camper Bus with stock everything. Towards the end of last fall (I keep the Westy in storage over the winter) the Westy started to have a difficult time starting. It has always started very quickly like in a couple of seconds. But this changed and now it takes a couple of minutes of turning the engine over before it starts. I would say first thing in the morning, but it really doesn’t matter what time of day, just the first start of the day. Once started it will be great all day. I can drive it for as little as 5 minutes and when turned off it will easily re-start, within a second of turning the key. I can drive it for 30 min. Play a round of golf over 5 hours, and then when I come back to re-start it, it will start in a second or two. However, once it goes to sleep for the night, no matter what, the next day’s start will be an ordeal that can go on for 5 minutes or so. I have yet to have a day when it did not start at all, but I don’t want that to happen. 

Any ideas? 

Sincerely, 

George Mallia 
Charlottetown, PEI, Canada 



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