well, how does it stop ?
does it just 'shut off' like someone turned the key off ?

there are ALL KINDS of tricks you can do.
put a timing light on it, rig the switch so it's on full time.
when the engine shuts off............see if as it's coasting to a stop
........the timing light keeps flashing,
or when it stops, the timing light abruptly stops flashing first.

wiggle wires while it's running .
come up with a plan.

I don't think people actually realize what their mind's diagnostic process
is actually.
Say you see a tail light out.
without thinking, you automatically come up with a reason to explain that
( poor contact at the bulb, say ) ........
then you come up with a way to test that theory ( you wiggle the bulb, pull
it out, re-seat it, try another bulb etc )

all you do is keep coming up with a theory that will match and explain the
Symptom.
and # 2...............test for that.
over and over until you get it.

Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "The Westy man" <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, September 01, 2008 5:40 PM
Subject: Engine stop in 20 sec

I was trying to find out why the engine stops after about twenty seconds.
Its an '86 van with 2.1 liter engine.  Harness was changed, all things look
fine.  My digitool is not working for some reason to be able to find what
that can.
Hope someone would know.
Zoltan