Blake,

    As I understand it when the idle stablizer goes bad the engine races.
However my 84 does not have one, a PO removed it and put the plugs together
and it idles fine if everything else is correct. So if you suspect it just
hook the plugs together. A zero cost troubleshooting tip!

Joe

----- Original Message -----
From: "Blake Thornton" <thornton@MATH.UTAH.EDU>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2001 12:03 PM
Subject: Help! Van still dying

> I've posted this problem before, but the problem is not going away.  Here
> is what happens to my 84 westy:
>
> When driving (usually when stopped, but also when driving down the
> road), all of a sudden, I lose all power.  The van continues to idle (not
> a terrible idle, but not a good one either, the rpms are probaly 600rpms),
> but there is absolutely no response from the throttle - NONE, it does
> nothing.
>
> Then, if I turn off the van and then turn it back on, things are usually
> OK.  This morning, after turning the van off and then immediately on,
> things did not return to normal.  But, then I turned the van off, let it
> sit for 1-2 minutes and then things were back to normal (only to have the
> problem come back 10 minutes later).
>
> When it happened this morning, I opened up the engine bay and started
> playing around with everything I could think of (moving the throttle,
> clicking on the throttle switches, fiddling with the spark plug wires,
> banging on the AFM, playing with my keys and the ignition switch,
> disconnected the O2 sensor) and none of these things made any significant
> difference.  I could hear the flap in the AFM moving when I moved the
> throttle, so I know the afm is not stuck, but when doing this, there was
> still no significant change in the way the engine was running.
>
> Here is everthing I have tried and done since the problem started:
>
> - took apart afm and looked at wiper track.  It looked fine but I had a
> spare (new) AFM and that I put in (so now I have a new AFM in my van)
>
> - bought and installed new throttle switches (both of them).  I'm quite
> sure I have them adjusted correctly as well (but am also sure the
> adjustment would not be the problem)
>
> - installed a new hall sender in my distributor.  Don't know if the old
> one was bad, but I have a new one now.
>
> - cleaned all grounds in the engine compartment.  I sanded them and
> reinstalled.  I have not yet bought any of that compound that makes the
> connection better, but I think the grounds are all quite clean.
>
> - Bought a new ignition switch.  I have yet to install this, but I'm
> doubtful that this is the problem.  I'm going to try to install the
> ignition switch this weekend.
>
> - Installed a new exhaust system.  This can't have any bearing, but I'm
> quite sure there are no exhaust leaks.
>
> - my fuel filter(s) are quite new, but I'll probably replace them this
> weekend.  But, this is intermittant, so this can't be the problem.
>
> - my spark plugs, cap and roter are all quite new, and I'll probably try
> replacing them this weekend as well.
>
> - my idle stabilizer is probably 3-4 years old.  But, if it doesn't get
> better, I'll probably try replacing this soon as well.
>
> I have no other ideas of what to do.  I'm might take it into the shop, but
> would prefer to avoid this (since the shop probably won't know what to do
> either).
>
> HELP!
> Thanks a ton for any help!
> Blake
> 84 Westy
> SLC UT
>