Chris,
    I'm a recent 88 GL owner with a lot to learn, but your troubles seem
somewhat like mine. I know engine is definitely running rich. This is what I
found so far:
    After determining that my Temp II sender was doing its job, I started
disconnecting stuff and taking short rides to see what was going on.
Performance with a warm engine improved somewhat when I disconnected the
Idle Stabilizer Valve, and improved radically when the oxygen sensor was
disconnected.
     Looking at the oxygen sensor, it was completely clogged with soot, as
were the plugs when I pulled them. How does your exhaust smell? Mine smelt
terrible- unburnt fuel and something else that made my eyes burn like mad.
That's all better now.  Until I can get all the parts for a full tune up,
along with a new oxygen sensor, I reset the idle a little high with the ISV
and the sensor disconnected, and am driving as little as possible.
    Hope this is helpful.  I'm posting this to the list, too, so that any
insanely misguided stuff may get corrected by the people who really know.
                            -Matt Sutton
  on 3/26/2002 7:13 PM, fryer at alienj@BAD-CANDY.COM wrote:

> help, i have this problem with my vanagon (stock 87 syncro) while
> it is warming up the idle is up to about 1600 rpm, and once it is
> warm there is excessive hesitation right off the line. i have to
> slip the clutch untill im going about 10 miles an hour and it will
> stall in 2nd gear if i let the rpm's drop below 2000. any ideas?
> its really cold and rainy in upatate ny so i havent looked at the
> engine. someone said it might be a vac. leak but i really dont
> know and city driving is starting to get real bad.
> thanks everyone
> chris fryer
> 87 vanagon syncro gl
> 85 8v scirocco wolfsburg
>
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