In a message dated 22/02/2004 4:27:10 PM Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

<<<<Do the Idle Stabilizer Control Units ever  go
bad?>>>>

They certainly do.  I have four of them sitting  on my desk right in front of
me waiting for some spare time to try and repair  them.  If you do a search
of the archives you will find vast amounts of  information and discussions on
how to repair them.  So far I have been  unsuccessful in my attempts.  If you
get a new or used one make sure you  get one with the "D" designation as it is
the newer model and will last  longer.  The only real positive test I have
found for these is to swap in a  known good one or install yours in a "known to
be working perfectly"  van. One more point worth noting.  It is very important
to make sure  the idle control valve is working properly.  If it is not it
could be  the reason the ICU has burned up.  They are expensive new.  I can get
them for less, see my Vanagon Items Forsale,
http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/sales.htm, webpage, but there is a 4~6 week time  delay getting them.  Neither I
nor my supplier wishes to stock these  expensive items.

Cheers,

Frank Condelli
Almonte,  Ontario, Canada
BusFusion a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 10 ~  13, 2004
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains
Member: Vanagon List, LiMBO, IWCCC  & CCVWC
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa  Valley
STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Mufflers
Frank Condelli &  Associates or http://frankcondelli.com