I'd really appreciate some advice on this:

I had to go out a couple of days ago in my 84 Wasserboxer camper, in a heat
wave. (It was 107.6 degrees down here on the southern edge of the Australian
desert!)

Tootling along happily at about 40 mph, with the aircon running, the temp.
guage showed just slightly towards the high end of normal.

Suddenly the engine cut out. I manouevred towards the side lane, and flicked
off the aircon, as I knew this put a load on the engine (usually drops a few
hundred revs with it running).  The engine spluttered and backfired a bit then
started running sweetly. Turned on the aircon - no engine. Turned off the
aircon. Engine coughs then goes again.

I decided to sweat the rest of the way home, but trying to replicate this when
safely in my own drive, I couldn't make it stop the engine again - just the
usual drop of a couple of hundred revs both at idle and higher revs. As I
switched the aircon on and off while idling, I noticed a tiny blink of light
from the temp. warning light, although the temp. was normal.   I've booked the
van into my VW mechanic later next week for a look.  He muttered something
about a high pressure switch.  I've put him on the right track a couple of
times by gently suggesting things I've read here - so hope someone can help me
with this one.

Cheers,

Bob Bolton
Adelaide, South Australia

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