Denis - THANKS for the tip. I'll see if I cam scare up another knock box. I think my spare went to my buddy who built an ITA car. Then again, I might have a spare but I'm getting feebleminded.
This list is awesome!! I can only imagine the asinine responses is get if I were to post that question on VWVortex. - Matthew - On Oct 1, 2010, at 21:16, Denis Goldman <[email protected]> wrote: > Matt, > > I had that same intermittent power-loss/limp-home/acts-as-no-o2-sensor is > connected gremlin at one point - turned out, after months of trial and > error, swapping parts one at a time, to be the knock box under the passenger > side of the windshield (this was a CIS-E 1.8 16v, I think motronic has the > 02/Knock CPU as part of the main CPU on the driver's side). > > The key cycle you mentioned was the same for me....unlike a torn air boot, > the problem often went away with a quick flip of the ignition. > > Swap it out with a good one if you have access to someone with an extra... > > Of course, if you have motronic, then disregard what I said above. :) > > Regards, > Denis > > On Fri, Oct 1, 2010 at 12:27 PM, Matthew Yip <[email protected]> wrote: > >> ITA allows for a final-drive change but it's verbotten to "mix and match" >> the >> internals. I run a 4.25 which, according to Shine, is the wrong final >> drive - >> wrong for his application but fine for me. >> >> >> I've considered a newer car and the myriad of benefits. The issue is that >> I'm >> flush with antique VW bits - most of which are worthless to anyone who >> isn't an >> "enthusiast". That having been said, I'd love to get into an E30 BMW >> (newer but >> not so new that it's fully computer controlled) or an Integra (new enough >> to be >> tunable). >> >> >> >> My street 16v GTi seems to have a black cloud hovering over it - I've >> touched >> virtually EVERYTHING and yet it spites me. It starts and runs GREAT until >> it >> drops into some sort of low-power mode, sputtering and stumbling. All I >> have to >> do is cycle the key and it goes away BUT I have no idea where to start. It >> drops into that mode for no apparent reason and all temperatures although >> it's >> more "sensitive" when it's cool and wet. AAARRRGGGHHH!!! Give me >> something >> broken - I abhor these intermittent problems. >> >> Matthew >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ---- >>> From: Les Noriel <[email protected]> >>> To: Volkswagen a2 16v discussion list <[email protected]>; >>> [email protected] >>> Sent: Fri, October 1, 2010 11:21:39 AM >>> Subject: Re: [a2-16v-list] General Li Update >>> >>> Matthew, >>> Does ITA allow for any gearing changes or do they have to remain stock? >>> >>> Over revving the motor--Many of the newer cars once again have engine >>> management limitations that prevent that from occurring on newer engines. >>> Again, another advantage to newer cars. >>> >>> >>> Regarding older cars, Rafi Kazanjian of Eurosport campaigns a MK1 here >> on the >>> West Coast. The car is almost entirely stock. The balance and lightweight >> of >>> the car (Along with his driving skills) makes him competitive against >> many of >>> the newer cars. >>> >>> >>> I had a similar electrical experience on the road with my MKI many years >> ago. >>> It did not matter what I did, the wire would dislodge from the >> alternatior. I >>> replaced the cable, used zip ties, etc. I even created a small metal >> bracket >>> and screwed it down to prevent the cable from coming off. That was to no >> avail >>> as the metal bracket broke one day while driving away from a stop light. >> That >>> car was cursed and refused to be fixed. >>> >>> >>> Good luck this season. >>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: Matthew Yip <[email protected]> >>>> Sent: Oct 1, 2010 6:46 AM >>>> To: [email protected] >>>> Subject: [a2-16v-list] General Li Update >>>> >>>> It's been several years since I've written any updates. I'm astonished >> that >>>> y'all find my drivel interesting. Be honest - many of you have kids now >> and >>> need >>> >>>> >>>> something to read that will drone the kiddies to sleep. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Nothing too spectacular has happened in the past 3-4 years of racing. >> The car >>> is >>> >>>> >>>> becoming less competitive bc of new cars being classed into ITA. I'm >> not >>> pleased >>> >>>> >>>> but understand that we can't stand in the way of progress. What I am >> seeing >>> that >>> >>>> >>>> annoys me is that the EFI cars are getting all the breaks while the old >> junk >> >>>> like the CIS-E or carbureted cars are getting left behind. >>>> >>>> >>>> After 6, yes SIX, seasons, I finally replaced the otherwise stock >> engine 3 >>> years >>> >>>> >>>> ago. The "race" motor is now a .020 overviews 1.8l 16v with porting as >>> allowed >>> >>>> in IT - 1" in from the outside edge of the head. Otherwise everything >> else is >>> >>>> OE, just fresh and new. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> The results of the fresh engine amazing. All that time spent trying to >> eke >>> out >>> >>>> momentum paid off. The engine was worth a good second PLUS it as great >> to >>> final >>> >>>> motor past other cars on the straights. >>>> >>>> >>>> 2 years ago, I finally ditched my ancient Koni single adjustable for >> some >>>> Bilstein Race shocks. Again, what a HUGE difference. The car actually >> stuck >>> and >>> >>>> I found myself gaining in otherwise faster cars in the twisties. >>>> >>>> >>>> The past years have had a few "moments" as well. >>>> >>>> The last race of 2007, a car spun on the first lap in T9. I spun to >> avoid or >>> I'd >>> >>>> >>>> have shortened his car by several feet. I took out the tyre wall with >> the LF >>> but >>> >>>> >>>> the car was unfazed. Unfortunately, going down the front straight, I >> saw a >>> flash >>> >>>> >>>> of orange which told me that the hood pin had come loose. Worse, >> entering T3, >>> >>>> the car go loose on me, I jumped the inside kerbing, giving the car >> behind >>> me, >>> >>>> the SAME that that I'd spun to avoid, a great view of the underside of >> the >>>> General Li as I balanced the car on the RR tyre. I slid to a stop in a >> cloud >>> of >>> >>>> >>>> dust, heard squealing tyres and WHAM - Earl's 240 pummeled the driver's >> side >>> of >>> >>>> my car, side-to-side. I restarted my car and left the scene in a hurry >> to >>> avoid >>> >>>> >>>> having other cars find me in the fog. Ducking into the pits, I >> frantically >>>> motioned to some friends (I still don't normally travel with crew) to >> take a >> >>>> look at the hood - they gave me a "Come back in 2 laps" signal. 2 laps >>> later, I >>> >>>> >>>> >>>> returned and they graciously taped my hood shut and I returned to the >> melee. >>> >>>> >>>> The final outcome wasn't pretty but it wasn't hopeless either. The >> drivers' >> >>>> side of the car was beat up and the rocker panel was bent at the >> trailing >>> edge >>> >>>> of the door BUT the car was still running without any pulling, rubbing >> or >>> fluid >>> >>>> leaks. Earl's 240 went back to the paddock b/c of a bent tie rod - >> Germany >>> 2, >>> >>>> Japan 0. >>>> >>>> Over the winter, I replaced the fender and Auto Expectations (owned by >> the >>>> former owners of Datsun Dynamics) pulled the major dents in the LR >> quarter >>>> panel. I retained the door and the dents in the rocker panel for >> asthetics. >>> >>>> >>>> >>>> For the first race of 2008, we raced in a misty pseudo-rain. A few >> laps into >>> >>>> the race, I was running with Doug's MR2 and eating up the track. In T7 >> on >>>> Summit Point, Doug started a rather lurid spin - anticipating that he'd >> spin >>> off >>> >>>> >>>> to driver's right, I hit the grass on driver's left. Nope - wrong idea >> - >>> Doug's >>> >>>> >>>> car instead came back to driver's left and found the RF of my car. I >> tagged >>> the >>> >>>> >>>> RR of his MR2, spinning both of us surprisingly quickly. Per usual, I >> drove >> >>>> away, bouncing off the rev limiter in the grass. Doug got the short >> end of >>> that >>> >>>> >>>> contact with about 6 degrees of toe-out in the RR - Germany 3, Japan 0. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> The rest of 2008 went well with some oddities starting show up as the >> car >>> ages. >>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> In particular was an infuriating miss during hard right turns - this is >>>> indicative of fuel starvation so I started adding more and more fuel to >> the >>>> car. The problem persisted and I started wondering if something in the >> fuel >> >>>> system was starting to fail - I HATE intermittent problems with a >> passion. >>> Then >>> >>>> >>>> Brian, my crew and now fellow competitor (or maybe it was Bob, one of >> my >>> other >>> >>>> crew and Brian's Dad) who noticed that the main electrical connection to >> the >> >>>> alternator was broken. The tab was completely broken away BUT because >> of >>>> metal-memory, it touched the connector. However, under hard right >> turns, the >>> >>>> connector was "pulled" away from the alternator - since the voltage was >>> marginal >>> >>>> >>>> (thought the alternator was just junk), the car WAS cutting out in hard >> right >>> >>>> turns but it was electrical, NOT fuel. Ugh - problem solved although >> we >>>> encountered the same problem in 2009. At least we'd seen it before and >> Bob, >> >>>> whom we all refer to as the Mad Scientist (Think Dexter of Dexter's >>> Laboratory) >>> >>>> was prepared with a full electrical kit including lugs specifically >> sized for >>> >>>> the alternator. >>>> >>>> >>>> As a whole, 2008 was an exercise in frustration - the car is just as >> fast as >>> it >>> >>>> was in the past 1:31-1:30 on Summit Point Main but the new cars are >> getting >>>> significantly faster. The lap record on SP Main is now in the 1:26 >> range >>> (might >>> >>>> >>>> even be in the 1.25s - I try to put that out of my mind or I'm just >>> depressed). >>> >>>> >>>> Starts are still my favorites, especially charging down the middle, >> scaring >>> the >>> >>>> daylights out of the smaller cars. At the end of 2008, Ryan, my other >> crew >>> and >>> >>>> soon-to-be Brian's brother-in-law, thanked me for not making him do >> bodywork >> >>>> over the winter - that's gratitude for you...<G> >>>> >>>> In Fall 2008, Brian, my crew member, decided to go racing and I offered >> him >>> the >>> >>>> General Li for School. He took to the car like a duck to water which >> was bad >>> >>>> for me. Actually it was amusing to watch the car going around the >> track >>> without >>> >>>> >>>> me driving. Some of my fellow competitors mentioned that the car >> looked fast >>> - >>> >>>> probably b/c it was at least 50 lbs lighter without me driving. I >> reminded >>> all >>> >>>> >>>> of them that my bumpers are both big and strong. During the race and >> the end >>> of >>> >>>> >>>> Driver's School, Brian and Jesse, son of one of my ITA competitors, >> were >>> running >>> >>>> >>>> inches apart. As they came thru T10, we only saw the General Li - poor >> Todd, >>> >>>> Jesse's Dad exclaimed "Oh, no - Jesse must have gone off". About the >> same >>> time >>> >>>> that he said that, Jesse popped out from behind the General Li and >> suddenly, >> >>>> there were 2 cars...very, very cool. >>>> >>>> 2009 was another exercise in frustration - Brian's car wasn't completed >> so we >>> >>>> shared the General Li during the season. At the first race, we had >> shifter >>>> problems and ended up changing the clutch. That wasn't the problem and >> at >>> VIR, >>> >>>> the issues just got worse as the trans had no interest in finding >> gears. >>> This >>> >>>> made for interesting racing since gear changes had to be very slow and >>>> deliberate. This relegated me towards the back of the pack and made >> racing >>> more >>> >>>> >>>> of a chore than a fun competition. When we (actually just me) returned >> from >> >>>> VIR, we (this time ALL of us) pulled the trans and sent it to a buddy >> who is >>> a >>> >>>> VW Master Tech and a transaxle guru. The verdict was that the 1-2 >> slide had >> >>>> worn along with a clutch disc that delaminated - something about an >> over-rev >>> on >>> >>>> downshift - couldn't have been me <G>. >>>> >>>> Once the trans was fixed, the light at the end of the tunnel started >> getting >> >>>> brighter although racing a now "vintage" VW has many challenges. >> During one >> >>>> race, whilst racing with a pack of cars, the car just shut off - the >> coil >>> wire >>> >>>> popped off - something that happened many years ago so we zip-tied the >> wire >>> in >>> >>>> place - apparently that wasn't enough. Scratch one DNF into the books. >>>> >>>> Updates for 2010 to follow shortly. >>>> >>>> - Matthew - >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> a2-16v-list mailing list >>>> [email protected] >>>> http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list >>>> For list archives, see listinfo link above. >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> a2-16v-list mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list >>> For list archives, see listinfo link above. >>> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> a2-16v-list mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list >> For list archives, see listinfo link above. >> > _______________________________________________ > a2-16v-list mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list > For list archives, see listinfo link above.
