I would guess the idle position switch on the throttle body.  Dirty and/or out
of adjustment.

With the engine off, you should be able to open the throttle all the way and
hear a 'click', then another 'click' when you return the throttle to idle.  Mine
would work fine when cold, but the 'click' at idle didn't happen when it was
hot.  Idled at 2200 rpm in the thin air of Calgary, and 3000 rpm in Seattle.  I
took the throttle body off, cleaned the gunk out and maxed out the adjustment on
the switch, and it only does it every now and again.

Keith Adams
Calgary, AB, CA
86 Westy "Roxy" / 87 Syncro project "Hugh"

William Wedenoja wrote:

> I regret to say that I've been off the list for more than a year.  Simply
> couldn't keep up with it.  And I haven't had any van-related problems. Until
> now.
>
> I left the house one morning.  About half a mile down the road, in third, I
> discovered if I took my foot off the accelerator that the engine kept
> revving at about 3000 rpm.  Stuck.  I took it home and abandoned it for the
> Saab.  The next day I tried the westy again and it worked normally.  Then,
> of course, the next day the accelerator stuck again.
>
> A shop replaced the idle stabilizer valve ($190 plus labor).  But that
> didn't help.  I thought I should consult listees before letting the shop
> replace more parts.  There's no one around here who's really savvy about
> vanagons.
>
> Sometimes I can get it back to normal by turning the key off, then
> restarting.  Yesterday it ran fine all day, today it was out of control most
> of the time.
>
> Is this common?  Is there a clear-cut reason?  Or a good diagnostic
> procedure to follow?
>
> Thanks,
> Bill
> 88 westy (hoppin' john)
> Springfield, MO