Sounds like a vacuum leak to me. I had a similar problem and it turned
out to be the crankcase vent hose right on top of the engine. That hose
transports oil vapors and moisture vapors to the AFM to be recycled
through the engine, and the hose tends to rot on the under side. Mine
had holes to rot through on the bottom side where they were not visible.
Replaced the hose and problem solved.

Best of luck.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Warren Lail wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>I drove over 900 miles today and have about 175 to go tomorrow before I reach  my destination.  Billy Bones did pretty well,
>but did start bucking and skipping.
>
>Symptoms
>
>Skipping and cutting out as reach the top of a hill and just as I start up the other side.
>When I pull off the Interstate the idle is at around 2000 rpm and then begins to fluctuate and eventually dies.
>Will restart, but I need to work the pedal a bit.
>
>When it starts bucking out on the road, I can depress the clutch and rev the engine a bit and then it clears up
>for a while, but soon returns.  Otherwise power is good.  I popped the hatch and wiggled everything and nothing
>changed.  I unplugged the AFM and replugged it and no change.  I unplugged the O2 sensor and replugged it and
>no change.
>
>Does this sound like the dreaded Vanagon bucking syndrome?
>
>I have my tools with me, including my multimeter.  Your suggestions are much appreciated!.
>
>Warren Lail
>88 Westy "Billy Bones"
>
>
>
>