first off the vanagon has a factory rebuilt air cooled engine with about 15,000 miles with the stock fuel injection...the problem that it is having is that the van will not start unless primed. by this i mean i open the points by had a couple times in order to make the fuel injectors fire(with ignition on) and then the engine will start and run great. i have even pop started it in about 6 inches after the priming. temp does not matter because i have tried it hot and cold and with out priming the engine will turn over untill it kills the battery. i've got to my wits ends with this issue...it's a real pain to have to drive this way...any idea
I'm not really a Vanagon specialist, it's actually one of the only vehicles I've never really worked on VW has made. Shouldn't the vehicle have a cold start valve though? What happens if you spray starting fluid into the intake then attempt to get it started will it keep running? I'm kind of confused why the thing doesn't "self prime" as you call it while cranking.
Try the starting fluid thing and let me know. If that works I have an idea what it may be.
it does have the start valve, but the problem exisists when the engine is warm also. i have checked it and it seems fine. the starter spray will make it start right up and then it will idle great. it idles great after i prime it also, it just won't do it on it's own
Sorry I didn't respond sooner, thanksgiving you know. You need to check for spark and fuel. See if it truly is the injectors, check to be sure that you have power to the coil and the injectors while cranking. That's controlled by a separate system than the trigger for the coil and injectors so that will help me out.