Brian,
  Sometimes I suspect my Idle switch is shorting out on damp days as the engine will stall and surge at random times, as if the switch is out of adjustment. Never been able to verify this though. I have and '84 1.9 as well.
  Distributor electronics can short out randomly and cause this as well.
  Good luck!
  Steven

Brian Jarvinen <brianvwagain@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
  well it's that time again. I've been through this
before
but have to work through it again. the fuel seems to
cut out at seemingly random times.

I tried to do some archive searches about my questions
but on dial-up that is very frustrating.

My Westy is an 84 1.9L
manufactured 12/83; I also have an extra
Vanagon manufactured 11/83 that I've mostly
finished parting out and using for spares.

but something is cutting off the fuel seemingly
at random. first symptoms appeared on rainy
days but we've had a lot of those and I don't
think an exposed wire getting moist is the
culprit because the symptoms started again
on a warm sunny day this weekend.

Checked so far -

all grounds cleaned, di-electric greased, sealed
with wire-dryer spray.

fuel filter changed.

temp-sensor II - about two years old. but
van can run perfectly when fully warmed for
long periods, then start the herky-jerkys.
previous experience with this sensor going
bad was much different but I guess still
possible. haven't tested it with slowly
warming water yet.

fuel pump relays - seem solid. have had
these cause this problem in the past, detectable
when ever hitting a bump in the road. also
when the inside of the relay rattles a little bit.
swapped one out anyway, no change.

fuel pump - pressurizes normally on
start up. I never hear it make the re-pressurization
sound again after that. but it is the original
pump ... 24 years, 250K miles...

so question 1 - what are the symptoms
of a fuel pump going bad?

fuel pressure regulator - I could test this, I
have in the past with the little port at the
fuel-line T, but testing for this is...what
if when I test it, everything is working just
exactly perfect? I wouldn't think a regulator
problem would be so random.

the coil - actually swapped this out for
other reasons. an educational experience
I will write about in another post, perhaps
it will help someone else. no change in symptoms.

ahhh, the air sensors - I can test these with
the box off, per Bentley, and all tests show
correctly. again testing can only reveal
so much - sometimes the van runs perfectly
for 20 minutes at a time. what if I am
testing when the sensor arm is on the right spot?

so question 2 - what are the symptoms of
these sensors flaking out?

I'm leaning towards just replacing the
air sensors. unfortunately I already gave away
my extra air box I think, can't find my extra
one anywhere. but at $150 and several days
shipping, I keep hoping I can find something
simpler to try next.

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