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From: otto@whuxle.UUCP (George V.E. Otto)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Problem with overheating Rabbit
Message-ID: <441@whuxle.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 10-Jun-84 17:50:21 EDT
Article-I.D.: whuxle.441
Posted: Sun Jun 10 17:50:21 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 11-Jun-84 00:53:19 EDT
Organization: Bell Labs, Whippany
Lines: 41


I have been having a problem with my Rabbit that the mechanics I have taken
it to seem unable to correct.  I hope that someone else in this group will
be able to identify the cause of the problem and perhaps point me in the
direction of a simple solution.

First, the car: I have a 1977 Rabbit that uses *regular leaded* gas.  It may
be that the problem is due to an early design that has been corrected on
later models of the Rabbit.  Additionally, I believe that this model was one
of the first to be manufactured in the USA instead of Germany.

Second, the problem:  when the engine has been running for a while on
particularly *hot* summer days (temperature > 90 degrees)  the engine begins
to miss and then die completely.  Attempts to restart the car lead nowhere;
the starting motor simply turns the engine over.  If I wait around 10
minutes, I can start the car and drive for about 5 minutes when the motor
dies again.  Again waiting 10 minutes allows me to get the motor started.
If I try to start the motor at about the 5 minute mark, it starts somewhat,
and then immediately dies.

The thought that first comes to mind is vapor lock.  But the mechanics I
mention this to say they haven't heard of a vapor lock problem with the
Rabbit.

One friend suggested yesterday (so I haven't had a chance to try it) that if
I were to use either *unleaded* or *premium* gas that the problem would go
away, since these gases have ingredients that fight vapor lock.

Another friend suggested that rerouting the gas-feed hoses leading to the
injectors might correct the problem.  I noticed that the gas-feed hoses *do*
lead behind the motor right above the manifold, an area that seems to build
up heat quickly and be out of the way of the fan's circulating area.

If anyone else has experienced this problem I would appreciate hearing about
it, particulary if there was a fix that corrected it.

Thanks for your help,

					George Otto
					AT&T Bell Labs, Whippany
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