Hogwash.

Sincerely,

Craig Rogers
----- Original Message -----
From: "Smola, Tony" <TSmola@TRIBUNE.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2002 7:25 PM
Subject: The Truth About Timing Your Vanagon

> You guys,
> You need to understand what your hardware actually does before
disconnecting
> it.  The engine stabilizer varies the timing at idle in order to achieve a
> smoother idle....hence idle stabilizer.....DO NOT DISCONNECT  the timing
> mark will bounces btdc and atdc depending on the feedback of the motor to
> the ignition.   To set your timing on the 1.9L the stabilizer needs to be
> disconnected in order to be able to "read" the mark properly...when done
> reconnect the stabilizer for a smoother idle.......In order to lower the
> idle screw in the idle speed screw on the throttle body......for 5 degrees
> BTDC it will be about 1 to 1 1/2 turns out from closed.......which is all
> the way clockwise
> CHECK THE VACUUM LINES.......even that big one between the intake boot and
> the oil vent tower on the crankcase.....this needs to be open and not
> collapsed.....the oil filler gasket must also be in good condition and
> screwed on tight......
> Remember that there are color coded vacuum lines for the Vanagon.......red
> is a certain size....green is another and black is another........
> Call the dealer to get the numbers....but I know that I have green and red
> near the distributor vacuum advance.....and the vacuum lines that go to
the
> diaphrams near the right rear of the engine compartment that affect the
idle
> when turning the steering too far or turning on the A/C.....
>
> Malibu Tony  85' Westy
>
> Craig Rogers Wrote: Re: Advancing timing
>
> If you advance the timing sufficiently and disconnect the vacuum retard,
you
> should have no need for the idle stabilizer.  It is only there to advance
> the timing when you are putting it under too much load for the retarded
(
> I doubt this!)
> timing.  This is just one more thing that breaks and can be disconnected.
(
> This only breaks if you don't pinch it hard enough to disconnect the input
> and output wires)
> If your idle is too high after advancing the timing, this is normal.  The
> engine is running better, so it runs faster.  Turn the idle speed down.
(By
> screwing clockwise the idle speed screw on the throttle body)
>
> Bill Wrote: > I have seen many references to the benefits of advancing the
> timing on the
> 1.9l engine, so I decided to try it.  I found that if I advanced the
timing
> at all, the idle would start to surge (jumping between about 1000 RPM and
> 2500).  Any ideas?
> >
> > Some related info:  I have had a problem with the idle being rough.  The
> engine runs ok (passes emissions with more margin than any other car I
have
> owned) but sounds kind of like it has a "hot" cam.  While setting the
> timing, I noticed that the timing would vary by a degree or so, several
> times a second.  I disconnected the idle stabilizer and adjusted the idle
> speed to spec (it dropped significantly and the timing variation stopped
> when I disconnected the stabilizer)  When I re-connected the idle
> stabilizer, the idle speed was right and the timing variation was gone.  I
> wonder if I have a bad idle stabilizer.
> >
> > Bill
> >
>