Hi Joel,

There's a fairly extensive list of things that can cause this problem, pretty much anything electrical or fuel related. The advice I received was if the stumbling is harsh then it is more likely electrical than fuel related. That said, I checked fuel pressure and injectors as well as all the electrics. In my case it was the ECU. I understood this was a fairly uncommon cause of the vanagon syndrom, but it may be something that's becoming more common with increasing age.

Good luck,

Steve

________________________________
From: Joel Cort <joel_cort@YAHOO.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Monday, July 6, 2009 3:27:57 AM
Subject: Help with van bucking and spitting

Hey gang,

I'm trying to help out a buddy with a 86 2.1Ltr. Westy.

The van idles great hot or cold and starts right up.

While driving along all the sudden it will hicup and miss loosing all RPM under load. And pick right back up.
When slowing down to take a turn and picking up speed it will buck and miss with some backfiring.

I have checked the wiring and it all looks good. I have also checked and replaced the easy things like:
New TempII sender and
I swapped a good AFN (out of my van) AFM
A good Idle Stabiliser relay

but the symptons are still there.

Any hints where and how to track this gremlin down?  I will swap the brain next and the O2 is new.

Thanks,
 Joel Cort
Rochester NY.

89 Syncro Westy (CinnabarVan)
87 Syncro Transporter (Stella)
73 Westy Campmobile (agent orange)

Founding Member of the Empire VW Camping Club
&
Westies at Watkins - www.westies-at-watkins.org