Blake, I would check two things: 1) contacts on connector between ECU and FI
cable.  They need to be squeaky clean; and 2) the ignition control module.
I didn't see this latter item in your list of fixes.  Should be about $40
from your local FLAPS.

John Lauterbach
Macon, GA
'84 7-passenger

----- Original Message -----
From: "Blake Thornton" <thornton@MATH.UTAH.EDU>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2001 3:27 PM
Subject: 84 Still dying!

> Well, I've done almost everything now and I'm getting close to giving up.
> First, let me summarize what is happening again:
>
> While driving, van "almost" dies.  By this, I mean the rpms drop to about
> 500-700 (no tach) and I get NO response from the throttle.  While many of
> the suggestions made are quite good (and all are appreciated!), it seems
> most people are not fully understanding that I get NO response from the
> throttle.  When this is going on and I'm in the engine compartment and I
> play with the throttle, I can hear the flapper in the AFM moving, but
> still NOTHING happens.
>
> Then, usually (but not always), if I turn off the van, and then back on,
> everything is immediately back to normal.  If its not back to normal
> immediately, I can usually wait a few minutes and then turn my van back on
> and it runs again.
>
> I'm 99% sure it is an electrical problem, but dont' really know how to
> find it.
>
> I remember I had a slight wiring snafu a couple years agoe with the
> harness touching the muffler.  I suspected that the mechanic just taped
> over some problems so yesterday I opened up the wires and it looked like
> only the casing got melted (all the wires "looked" fine).  I then tugged
> and wiggled each wire both when running good and when running wierd as
> above.  In both cases, wiggling these wires did nothing.  So, I figured
> that the wires are probably fine in this location.
>
> I also put in a "new" (used) ECU and that didn't change anything either.
>
> I'm running out of things to try.  I'm going to call my mechanic and maybe
> take in in, but I can't imagine he will have any other ideas.
>
> Let me list again the things I've now done to date, including the dates.
>
> - temp II sensor is quite new (replaced 8/01)
> - new ignition switch (12/01)
> - new O2 sensor (4/01)
> - new hall sender (11/01)
> - cleaned all grounds in engine compartment (10/01)
> - replaced AFM with a new one (possibly rebuilt?) (10/01)
> - replaced throttle switches (both of them, 10/01)
> - new fuel filter (7/01)
> - new plug, cap, roter, wires (4/01)
> - idle stabilizer (probably 1997?, but it can't be bad can it?)
>
> I'm at a loss.  I guess I need to start checking every wire, but this
> worries me because the problem in intermittant - so when I check the
> wires, they will probably be fine.
>
> Blake
> 84 Westy
> SLC UT
>