Take it in to a competent mechanic and have the fuel/air mixture adjusted
properly, then hook up the O2 sensor.  In theory, a properly tuned vehicle
should run with the proper air/fuel mixture *without* the O2 sensor
installed.  The O2 sensor is there to provide feedback to the ECU to help
*keep* the fuel/air mixture proper as parts age and conditions change in the
engine.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Young                       '81 Vanagon
Lafayette, CA 94549         '82 Westfalia
---------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kyle Hamilton" <winged@TIGERDEN.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, June 13, 2004 11:22 AM
Subject: Thanks for your help, everyone! (New Vanagon Owner)

> Thanks for your help, everyone, with my problems related to losing power
> after 20 to 30 minutes on the road.  I disengaged the O2 sensor and it
> doesn't seem to have a problem anymore, though it's smelling like it's not
> putting enough air in the ignition chambers.  Oh well, should be a fairly
> inexpensive part, and it's somewhere where I can get to it easily. ;)
>
> Thanks again for your help diagnosing!
>
> -Kyle Hamilton
> '85 4-speed water-cooled Vanagon