Please be aware that there are good used ECUs for sale for around $100.
There is no reason to spend much more than that just on a theory that
yours might be bad. They do go bad and yours might be but maybe not. It
only takes about 5 minutes to swap one so a big dollar repair is not
needed to find out.

Mark

Aileen Boyd wrote:
> Hi everyone. Got some great help from some of you before, now am in a query
> again.
> I brought my 88' Westfalia into my trusted mechanic with a starting problem.
> He was able to fix that and a few other things fairly easily: i.e. new
> groundstrap, wiring, relay and helped my transmission out :) He then told me
> that what I thought was an ok running Westy (I've only had it since
> August-my first one) is running rich and overall poorly. He said that with
> the warmer weather it has probably become worse and that is why I may not
> have noticed strongly. I know that it has very low horsepower and idles a
> bit strange sometime and smells like it is running rich occassionally. He
> said he is a bit confused as to why, as it could be a number of things, and
> can run fine for a few minutes blow some black smoke and then go down the
> tubes again. He is suggesting but hoping it is not the ECU.  If it is do I
> have to replace it or can it be refurbished? Also, I have read a bit about
> the wiring harness that has helped "Vanagon Intermitten Syndrome". Anyone
> else know? Background: I replaced the o2 sensor, cat converter, and muff in
> Nov. Also new battery, fuel and air filter. 88' Westfalia, Automatic,
> 138,000 miles. Previous owners apparently didn't know how to do even basic
> matienance on any car let alone this one. Thankfully the first owners did
> and salvaged many good things.
> Thanks in advance!
>
> Aileen
>
> --
> If not Peace, then Justice.....
>