Aaron,

Sounds like a failing or should I say, failed head gasket.  I trouble shot
my 84 Westy for years, putting in new injectors, AFM, O2 sensor.  My wife
was very patient... The van sat in the garage for over two years with a 2.5L
TDI motor ready to go in, then I finally decided to sell the motor and have
a 2.1l put in.  I've owned my 84 Westy since 87, and have been through just
about everything we all talk about on the list.  Now, with the new motor,
and paint etc. I couldn't be happier with it!

It never hurts to check all your grounds, clean connectors, and apply
di-electric grease.

Good luck tracking down your problem.

Jack R.
84 Westy Wolfie, with 2.1L 90 syncro motor.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Aaron
Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2008 10:42 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: '85 Engine hesitation help

Hello all.

I have an '85 westy that I have been having some issues with and the
wife is becoming less happy by the day. It's been the daily driver
lately as our subaru is in the shop.

When it is running OK, it runs fine. Then it seems to hesitate/bog
down and will sometimes die at idle. It seems to only occur when warm
(intermittently). At freeway speeds, it will run, but feels like it's
missing power - perhaps 30%, then it will slowly surge a bit, then
lose power, then surge a bit etc. It's drivable as long as things are
flat...hills are slow. When I come off of road speeds to a stop, the
idle is very rough and it idles pooly, I (sometimes) loose all
throttle response and then it dies. It's usually hard to restart, no
rich smell at the tailpipe. It always restarts, it's just how much
time one has to wait.

I've been doing some maintenance on it (cap/rotor/plugs/plug wires/Oil
change/cleaning grounds/flush coolant/etc) recently. Any thoughts on
an easy fix on this one? Temp2 sender? O2 sender? Bad connection/
wire? Other??

Thanks!
Aaron
'85 Westy
'85 Sunroof (w/subaru)