[T3] News and questions from the road

Daniel Nohejl d.nohejl at gmail.com
Fri Jul 15 14:41:15 PDT 2016


Well, we’re still alive. Driving around Yellowstone the last few days we’ve definitely noticed that power is somewhat limited—though there are so many ascents it’s hard to tell if it’s because of elevation (generally between 7500' and 9000’) or just that we keep having to downshift because we suddenly have to go up a steep ascent when we’ve only been going 40 in 3rd. Gas mileage has improved to 25.5 while in the park. The starter has been totally fine since that one incident the other day. 

The only new thing is that our miss returned :( 

Yesterday, there was a periodic miss at idle which seems to have vanished today but this morning we had 5 gentle misses in a row when pulling out of a parking area. They felt like the same misses we had in the recent past and which our work with Jim in Madison seemed to have gotten rid of. Perhaps the connectors in the MPS plug need to be re-tightened? We also noticed that there’s a little tit on the points so we should probably replace those….can’t find the points file. It’s such a damned beautiful place and the last thing we feel like doing is pulling into a corner of a parking lot and fiddling with the car. Perhaps we won’t bother for now!?!?

In other news, here are some things people have said to us about the car in the last few days:

—Nice Bug wagon!
—Is that a Kamann Ghia?
—Nice MG!
—What is that?
—Did you really drive that all the way from NY?
—I used to have one of those but I overheated it on a hill.
—Were they all red?


Thanks for everyone’s input and feedback so far, 

Daniel




> On Jul 14, 2016, at 6:17 PM, Keith Park <topnotch at nycap.rr.com> wrote:
> 
> Dave is right, with a 6V car a starter relay is a must,
> but finally a couple years ago the hot start problem that was very
> occasional and only on very long trips with the 71 needed that to fix it.
> I tried different solenoids, different starters, made sure everything was
> rebuilt and lubed correctly, good ground braid, clean connections... it
> irritated me to have to use a "Band aid" to fix it but fix it it did, and
> its now easier on the ignition switch too.
> 
> Keith
> 
> 
> Topnotch Restorations
> topnotch at nycap.rr.com
> http://www.a383ina68.addr.com/radiorest/main.htm
> 71 Squareback  "Hothe"
> 65 Notchback  "El Baja Rojo"
> 93 RX7  "Redstur"
> 87 Golf  "Winterat"
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: type3-vwtype3.org [mailto:type3-vwtype3.org-bounces at lists.vwtype3.org]
> On Behalf Of Dave Hall
> Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2016 7:47 AM
> To: type3 at vwtype3.org
> Subject: Re: [T3] News and questions from the road
> 
> That starter scenario is entirely normal (!); my Type 3 used to do the same
> thing, as do many others. I used to energise the starter briefly straight
> after stopping the engine just to shake things back to where they should be.
> That worked for a few years, but the problem hasn't recurred since fitting a
> hard start relay, which was actually just a Bosch relay with integral fuse
> holder.  The fuse is 15 Amp if I recall - I don't think it's anything very
> special. It takes the load off the ignition/starter switch contact, so
> should help that survive longer than not having a relay.
> 
> Since having hot starting (starter motor not turning) issues decades ago,
> first on 6V and then on 12V Type 3s, I've puzzled over what aspect of heat
> soak can be behind this problem - thermal expansion, local drying out of
> lubricant etc. It may be a combination of sticking armature (often
> temporarily shocked into working by a tap with a hammer!), brushes not
> making good enough contact with the armature (hammer trick again), sticking
> gear on motor shaft (quickly shorting solenoid to battery main feed terminal
> with coin as emergency technique - cleaning and lightly lubricating the
> shaft does seems to help).
> It only needs one or a combination of these factors to cause the problem.
> That's why at the refuelling stop on the way to Boise on the first invasion,
> Russ was lying under John's car using the nickel trick!
> 
> Good luck with the rest of the journey.
> 
> Dave
> UK VW Type 3&4 Club
> ===================
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: type3-vwtype3.org [mailto:type3-vwtype3.org-bounces at lists.vwtype3.org]
> On Behalf Of Daniel Nohejl
> Sent: 12 July 2016 18:12
> To: type3 at vwtype3.org
> Subject: Re: [T3] News and questions from the road
> 
> Jim, 
> 
> The car started up fine this morning without us even touching anything.
> Perhaps the solenoid is sticking? Or the ignition switch is getting tired? 
> 
> I don't think the rack will fit inside the car though we can try..however,
> it's exactly as wide as the car so it seems unlikely. We'll probably just
> wind up leaving it with Tram or Jessica's mother and having it shipped back
> after we get home. That means we're very likely stuck with it for another 1k
> miles but we've already come 2k miles with it on and I think we'll survive. 
> 
> We're off to do an oil change in a windy Kmart parking lot before shopping
> for incidentals ahead of traveling into Yellowstone tomorrow. It snowed here
> for a little bit yesterday so we're hoping for some kinder weather!
> 
> 
> Daniel
> 
> 
> 
> Snipped=====
> 
> 
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