In a message dated 23/08/2006 12:02:39 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

Hello  List!!Hope all having a fabulous Summer.

Here is my story ...after a  long rest of 2.5 years I now have my westy up
and running ( thanks to some  list members who had the parts I needed...) So
far I have driven around  town and for the most part seems to be running
well. I needed to install a  new ECU and airflow meter to get it to run. I
have noticed though that the  milage has been quite crappy!!! and when in an
idle position it will  sometimes surge from 1000rpm to 1500rpms ..up and
down. Seems to even out  at about 1100 rpms when it gets   warmed right up.
Then it will  sometimes drop down to just under 1000  and sound a bit rough.
I give  her some gas and she will return to the 1100 mark again. I am by no
means  very mechanical and reading the list has made me paranoid  ...about
everything on that van...anyone give me any hints as to what to  check
next...

also my propane tank is original and so it is 21 years  old and it did have
some propane left in it after being parked for so long  and was able to get
my fridge and stove to light up but then then after the  fridge ran for a bit
the propane ran out. So my question is ...can I still  fill this tank? If I
do, how do I go about checking it to make sure it is  not leaking? What is
the life span of one of these things, will anyone even  fill a tank that old?

Anyway thanks for any help  ...

Neil, most likely cause of the problem is the idle  control switch on the
throttle body.  You have either one switch at the  bottom or two at the top.  '85
as the change over year from two switches to  one.  If adjusting the switch
so that it opens and closes right at the  beginning of the stroke of the
throttle body flap then it's the idle  stabilizer unit on the firewall in front of
the ignition coil.  Should be  green but could be white.  Has two round
electrical plugs going to it that  can be removed and plugged together.  If the idles
stay steady but high  when the plugs are plugged together then the unit is
bad.  _Go Westy_ (http://www.gowesty.com)  has the best deal on them.
    Propane tanks are made from 1/4" steel.   Seldom rust through except if
the data tag has not been removed or fallen  off.  If the tag is still there
remove it and see if there is a leak  there.  You can see leaks as the propane
will frost up as it hits the  atmosphere.  If the tank has no leaks it can be
removed, emptied, fittings  removed and holes plugged and sandblasted then
repainted with _POR-15_ (http://www.por15.com/)  to keep it from ever rusting
again.  I do this here all the time with great success.  I even have  someone
local who can repair weld the tanks with a hole to make them serviceable  again.
Yes, by law, it should have a data tag showing it's certification  but due to
the tanks location most propane fillers never look for it as they are  too
busy grumbling about having to lay on the ground to make their filler
connection !

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg  (Forsale) & Lionel Trains
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa  Valley
_Frank Condelli  & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_ (http://me
mbers.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10,  2007