That's a good one, Larry - I'll add it to our bag of tricks. Normally I'd be
skeptical of a claim (even from one of my own techs) that such an action had
"solved" the problem, but a six-year test drive is good enough for me...
Shame we live in such a hurried world - I'd love to be able to offer all my
customers that kind of security: "Yes, ma'm, we're pretty sure we got it
figured out - drove it to Quebec and back twice and not a single hiccup."

Coby Smolens
Valley Wagonworks
VW Bus and Vanagon Specialists
"Intimately acquainted with VW Vans since 1959"

1535 SF Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, CA 94960
415-457-5628

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of Larry Stichweh
Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2001 3:10 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: 85 Vanagon with intermittent engine stopping

My apologies to the list members for sending this out in HTML format.  Here
it is in plain text so it can be read.

There are a number of possibilities as other list members have suggested.  I
had the same problem and it took me a long time to find the cause in my
case.  After replacing most of the ignition system to no avail, I
disassembled the distributor. There is a roll pin that you need to work
with.  What I found was a very sticky grease between the shaft and the plate
holding the timing pickup.  It would sometimes grab and move the timing off
causing the engine to quit.  After a few minutes with the engine stopped
(the time varied) it would release with the spring pulling it back into
place and the van would run just fine until the next time.

Cleaning the shaft and lubricating with a silicone grease and installing it
back into the engine solved the problem.  This was at least 6 years ago.  No
problem since.

Have a look and let us know what you find.

Larry Stichweh