Actually,
The idle speed should be somewhere between 850-850 without AC or power
steering boost. The boost should be hardly noticeable, maybe 1,100 rpm.
If the compressor is stalling the engine, there may be something else
wrong preventing the engine from picking up the load. Maybe a vacuum
leak, valve problem or bad injectors. Deposits on the back of the intake
valves will also cause idle problems due to the carbon absorbing the
fuel during cold operation or during small throttle transactions.
Excessive deposits are caused by poor fuel quality or worn intake valve
guides, especially if the seals are missing. (Most are). Warn guides
allow oil to be sucked in and are also a vacuum leak.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of James Benthall
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 10:41 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Stalling at stop lights

John,
Is that 1500 rpm figure when the AC is in operation on a parked car at
idle?
 I'm thinking
part of problem is that my idle rpm is set way too low, and when I put
the
AC on the
engine wants to stall until it warms up enough.  My mechanic and I go
round
and round
cause he says setting the idle up to high is bad for the engine, and I
keep
wanting him
to give it a boost ;-)
James in Houston
87 Westy (the Phoenix)