The vacuum advance is controlled thermally. There's a vacuum valve connected to a coolant pipe and will only allow vacuum to pass to the vacuum solenoid when the engine is above 104 degees F. I would think this is an emissions thing to prevent you from just burning a bunch of gas to overcome a sluggish, cold engine. Once the engine warms, vacuum passes to the solenoid which is de-energized (opened) when you hit the gas, passing the vacuum to the distributor. As I have learned, a centrifugal advance does exist even though vacuum advance is not present. If there was a way to eliminate the thermal valve from the equation, the sluggish problem would go away. In that case, you'd have a vacuum available to the solenoid all the time. > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2002 23:29:43 EDT > From: DHughes030@xxxx > Subject: Bogs on cold drivaway > > Group, > I am completely satisfied with my cars drivability except > for one aspect. > On a cold startup and driveaway, the car has a bog/hesitation on > acceleration. This last for about two miles. Does your car > do this? Is this > "cold nature" common to all D's for this short period of time > due to vacuum > advance being withheld? It's not a bother, but if it's not > normal I want to > work it out. > 2) We have a 9 month old child. This severely limits my driving > opportunities in the D. Have any of you ventured to safely > and securely > mount a child safety seat in your car? If so, can it be done > in a way not to > permanently alter the car? > > Thanks, Don