Re: '88 5kCSQ Hard Starting problem

[murari@umiacs.UMD.EDU (Murari Srinivasan)]

> 
> Just thought I'd post a quick note on this one.  The 5kCSQ Wagon had been 
> exhibiting some hard starting and poor idling behavior recently.  I had 
> also noticed an occasional lack of power when climbing hills at lower RPMs 
> (2500-3000).  The loss of power was intermittent and very short-lived ... 
> until Sunday.  I was climbing a hill near my house when the engine complete-
> ly lost power and would barely idle.  It died just as I crested the hill.  
> I had a similar problem with a vacuum leak in the past, so that was the 
> first thing I looked at, but couldn't find any deteriorated hoses.  I 
> noticed that the coil wire was sticking out of the distr. cap in an unusual 
> way, so I tried to reseat it ... it wouldn't snap on.  The resistor had 
> broken, probably some time ago, and burned up to the point that I could 
> no longer get a spark.  The insulation on the cap had gotten pretty burned, 
> and all that was left in the connector area was a lot of white powder.  I 
> managed to cobble everything back together to the point I got the car the 
> 1.5 miles remaining to get home ... WHEW!

I had the same problem in my 85 5k sometime
ago, noticed that idling was poor, felt a
loss of power and checked all spark plug wires
and distributor connections - everything seemed
fine - was on my way to the mechanic...

... crested a hill and the car died...had to push
(!!!) it into a nearby commercial building and then
take a look at it - the coil connection had been
burnt out !

managed to crimp a wire and used a VW coil (identical
except for the connector (and muchos less $$$), and
its running fine again.

Murari.