My Vanagon starts when it is cold, however occasionally when I am driving the motor will stop. pull over and try to restart it. It turns over very well but will not ignite.

Asked by artistbobrennie Mar 08, 2014 at 07:21 AM about the 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon Camper Passenger Van

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I pull over and try to start it.  There is lots of battery and it turns over but will not ignite.   I try
again every15 minutes  up to about an hour or so.   It usually  starts again and I drive off.  I
have had AAA tow me to a garage and by the time I get there it starts in the garage.  It is
difficult for the mechanics to diagnose it in their shop when it starts fine there.  This only
occurs occasionally, but the car is not dependable over long periods of time.  As long as this
problem is not occurring the motor ignites almost immediately.

540

enrik answered 10 years ago

I forget, do the 85s still have a condenser? If so, you may need a new one. While at it, check rotor, points and distributor cap. After that, the ignition coil may be at fault. My 85 was the best vanagon I ever had.

1 people found this helpful.

Mark helpful

44,815

jamnblues answered 10 years ago

ok- those who know me already know what I'm gonna say- WHY a Vanagon?! And I say this from a mechanic's point of view- really complicated, overly engineered machines- a million things to go wrong- over the years, people found out the hard way- even now, in the 21st century, my mechanic friend and I, when driven' around point at Vanagons and say: "Look! A Vanagon that runs!!" this doesn't happen too often- if you are rich, find a really good mechanic who can deal with that beast-

Mark helpful

Your Answer:

My Vanagon starts when it is cold, however occasionally when I am driving the motor will stop. pull over and try to restart it. It turns over very well but will not ignite. 2 Answers

I pull over and try to start it. There is lots of battery and it turns over but will not ignite. I try again every15 minutes up to about an hour or so. It usually starts again and I drive off....

1985 Volkswagen Vanagon Camper Passenger Van

-

Maintenance & Repair
My 87 vanagon will not pass smog. It lopes at an idle, hesitates badly during driving and blows black smoke. It does not do this all of the time, it has progressivly gotten worse over the last couple of months. I looked the problem up in a book and it told me to: reset vacuum kick reset fast idle cam index reset fast idle rpm The book however did not tell me where these things are located or how I can fix them. Please help! 17 Answers

My 87 vanagon will not pass smog. It lopes at an idle, hesitates badly during driving and blows black smoke. It does not do this all of the time, it has progressivly gotten worse over the last coupl...

1987 Volkswagen Vanagon

-

Maintenance & Repair
My Vanagon is acting like the ckoke is on the oil has a lot of gas in it after 50 miles of driving?is it the computer 7 Answers

my Vanagon is getting bad mpg. a lot of oil in the gas andits running decent i just gave it full tune up set timing. and its still doing it?I was thinking maybe a computer issue or vacum lines i dont ...

1984 Volkswagen Vanagon

-

Maintenance & Repair
Hi, I have a 1990 Vanagon. I had a rebuilt motor built for it by a VW shop. It will only go 70mph? 2 Answers

Hi, I have a 1990 Vanagon. I had a rebuilt motor built for it by a VW shop. It will only go 70mph max, like it has a governor, with no ability to rapidly accelerate nor pass. I took it to another shop...

1990 Volkswagen Vanagon

-

Maintenance & Repair
What it he cause for th vw vanagon 1990 dying on long graduated hills? It is fine then starts lossing power. 1 Answer

The float/ gas gauge is not accurate. When I pull over and sit for few minutes, it starts up fine. It has plenty of power. If i have to go up a hill slow and gradual incline , it will lose power . ...

1990 Volkswagen Vanagon Base Passenger Van

-

Maintenance & Repair

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.