I had this exact problem with my '84. The problem has gone away since I
eliminated all vacuum leaks and tweaked the mixture screws.   Essentially,
it boils down to an improper idle setting- probably due to about five or six
incorrect things in the system. My problems are almost all gone after
replacing the temp 2 sensor, fixing vacuum leaks, new O2 sensor (and
exhaust), the cap fix in the AFM, and tweaking the mixture.  Mine also used
to loose power off the line until I'd floor it.

Bradley Flubacher
State College, PA
'81 diesel rabbit
'82 diesel westy
'82 diesel van
'84 GL wasserboxer

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of Buffy and Philip Simmons
Sent: Saturday, March 09, 2002 4:36 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: 84 westy strange idle

I just got this westy, and it just started this weird idle pattern.
After warming up, it will settle into a "rhythm", like this.It will idle
at ~800 (I have to figure out how to connect my gage to this rig.battery
in front and all, so this is my calibrated ears estimate), then will
search up to perhaps ~1200-1500, then will drop (quick drop) to ~600
rpm.then the cycle repeats.  Perhaps 5 of these cycles per minute.

Any thoughts?  This is my first fuel injected engine, perhaps is related
to that?

Thanks in advance

Philip