Hello all, my name is Chad I'm new to the list and to the world of vanagons,
i have owned many VW's but never a vanagon. so... i have some trouble
shooting questions.

OK here are my symptoms.

when i take off from a dead stop or just try to accelerate quickly, like
passing gear (punch it) i am "hopping" its not stalling, but lurching, and i
am gaining very little speed or RMP's. if i let back on the throttle a
little i lurch forward and gain speed...i can get up to speed but not very
efficiently and cruising is fine...the gear change is smooth (its
automatic).
 i am also having some cold start idle problems that dissipate once the
engine has warmed up nicely...the guy i just bought the vanagon from told me
all this stems from the intake air sensor...and i would like some input
before i buy a new because they are difficult to find used and new they are
really expensive.

my questions are:
*does this sound like its the air sensor? or does this sound like something
more serious?
*will this harm anything if its not fixed promptly?
*are the idle and acceleration problems part of the same issue?
* if this is an air sensor problem can i by-pass the sensor? (i was told
there was a way but i don't trust the idea honestly)

i am sorry its so many questions at once.
thanks for listening

take care

Chad
84 Vanagon GL ~ "Hop-a-Long"