I was going to suggest.... However, my experience was on a 1.9, not a
2.1 so I didn't. It probably was the throttle switch.  It apparently
tells the ECU to go to full rich.  When mine failed, I used 12 gallons
of fuel going 50 miles.  Make it REALLY rich.

Change that switch and all should be well. (You will not like VW's
price for it.  it was $85 in 1995 when mine broke. Prolly NLA now.)

Jim

On Oct 5, 2009, at 5:07 PM, James V wrote:

> Regardless, after swapping the AFM and the mechanic fiddling w/ the
> throttle switch, the van started.  He wouldn't charge me, but I gave
> him the cash I had on hand.  I then proceeded to drive the
> thousand-ish miles home without incident.  Changed the oil - this
> didn't occur to me until I was nearly home :(