Type III Injectors

[Pauldknox@aol.com]

An injector story worth telling:

I just had an experience with remanufactured fuel injectors and thought I
should share what I learned in the process.

The story begins last fall at the VW BugOut at the Manassas Fair Grounds on
Memorial Day.  While sifting through parts at dozens of vendors of new and
used parts, I came across what I thought was a real bargainófive rebuilt
injectors for the Type III 1600 engineóand get thisóall for $10.00!  Sound
too good to be true?  Well it is!!!  I did need injectors for my ë 70, but
didnít want to pay the price for new ones, so I took a chance.  

At first, they seemed to work OK but I was continually retuning the system to
keep it running halfway decent.  I had driven it a few hundred miles without
much problem, so a week ago when I had to make an emergency trip to Florida
to help my Father after surgery, I decided to drive the Type III.  I drove
the 1100 miles in about 18 hours, and the further I drove, more problems
seemed to pop up.  Missing, like the FI system had shut off momentarily, and
the gas mileage got worse with each fillóless than 20 MPG by the time I got
there.

The next day brought more problemsóone cylinder quit firing completely,
followed by two more.  Of course, with only one cylinder working the engine
would not run at all.  Great situationó1100 miles from home and my tools and
other equipmentówhatís a fella to do?

Good fortune and a bit of luck came my way.  I Looked in the phone book for
performance VW shops and found one just 8 miles away in Lantana, Florida.
 The shop is called LakeView Auto Service, Inc.  I spent a little time
telling my story to Noel Atherley who then told me he had some Type III
parts, and did have new injectors.  To make a long story short, the rebuilt
injectors were most of the problem.  In the process of checking all the
connections, some wires brokeóIím sure many of you have had the same
experience working with 27+ year old wiring harnesses.  With the connections
repaired, injectors installed, a new (used but good) throttle switch, and a
good tuning up the car runs like new, and I got almost 29 MPG on the way
home!!!  I also notices that the engine ran cooleróthe weather was about the
same both ways.  I guess that confirms what Gene Berg says about cooling and
proper fuel distribution.

To end this story, DONíT EVER USE REBUILT or REMANUFACTURED FUEL
INJECTORSóLife is too short to suffer that kind of frustration!  

Have a Great VW day,        PDK