My 91 Golf was doing the same thing... but when I shut it off, it would make
me wait 30 m inutes before it would allow me to start it again.  Not too
plesant when it is pouring out, and you have to be somewhere.

Anyway, the dealer found that the ECU had water inside of it, and that the
wiring leading into it, had really rotten insulation, and was soaking wet.
This ECU sits in front of the dash, below the windshield, on the outside.
They replaced my ECU and wires, and now it runs fine.

Given the location of the Vanagon ECU though, this is a tough one.  Maybe
try to look all around (and inside) of the ECU next time it is wet out, and
see if road spray is somehow getting up to that ECU area.

Good Luck!

RSF

<�)))>{   <�)))>{   <�)))>{   <�)))>{   <�)))>{   <�)))>{

Robert S. Fish
Salzburg, Austria
1987 Wolfsburg Vanagon 2.1 GL Weekender
1987 Golf Cabriolet
1991 Golf

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brad Estergaard" <bestergaard@SHAW.CA>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, April 02, 2002 5:43 AM
Subject: Vanagon Syndrome-ish when wet...help

> Hey guys,
>
> I have been having a real annoying problem with my Syncro over the last
month.  When driving in any kind of wet weather, after about 15-30 minutes
of driving my engine starts to loose rpms no matter how much I lay on the
gas and within a few moments the van dies.  It starts right up again with
the turn of the key and runs fine for like another 30sec-1minute and does
the same thing.  This goes on and on until the van dries out.  Once
everything is dry the van runs great until the next bought of wet weather
leaves me stranded.
>
> The first time it happened I thought it was the vanagon syndrome so i have
already added the updated harness.
>
> Is there some kind of relay or something that is prone to getting wet and
going nuts??  Perhaps a seal has degraded or a connector become
exposed...any ideas where to look first?
>
> I haven't been able to locate a Bentley manual yet so go easy on me :)
>
> regards,
> Brad
> '88 Syncro
>