The throttle cable is new and the operation of the pedal and linkage on top
 of the throttle body is unobstructed.  In addition, i checked the throttle
 position switch under the throttle body with a VOM and the switch operates
as it  should per the Bentley manual.  Thanks.

In a message dated 10/23/2009 7:28:23 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
inmytree1@gmail.com writes:

Rico,

I know this is random, but have you checked you throttle  cable and gas
pedal...?  The reason I ask is I had idle issues with my  subie conversion.
Last week the bottom of the pedal gave way, the rivets  holding it in place
were dust...I think the pedal was going for a while, thus  not allowing the
throttle cable to work properly...

I fixed it, idle  issues gone...

I may be way off, but I figured I'd share

Good  luck,
Jim
Wilmington, NC

On Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 7:14 PM, Rico Dagastino <_Dagbear@aol.com_
(mailto:Dagbear@aol.com) > wrote:

Yesterday,  I was backing out of the driveway in my 87 Vanagon and got to
the end of  the driveway.  When I started to drive down the street the  van
suddenly began to run died.  I was able to restart the van only  by holding
the accelerator pedal to the floor and cranking for about 20  seconds.  The
van ran only about 400 rpm and had very little power.  I checked the usual
easy fixes.  The spark plugs were old and  I replaced them, the distributor
cap, and the rotor.  I was able to  restart the van but now the idle is
about
3500 rpm.

I  checked:

the temp II sensor, the resistance measurements  were at the
specifications at the temperature ranges specified in  the Bentley  manual.
 I checked
the temperature of the sensor  with my nifty new VOM that  has a temperature
probe so I was sure of  the temperature at which the  measurements were
taken,

the idle stabilizer control valve. I cleaned the  valve and get  the
appropriate humming and opening and closing of the  valve,

the fuel pressure (the pressure at was  about 32  psi),

I disconnected the oxygen sensor in  order to reset  the ECU to the
default mode,

I  cleaned and tightened the grounds in the engine  compartment, at  the
transmission and frame ground attachment,

I set  the timing with a timing light per Bentley  with the temp II
sensor  disconnected and the idle stabilizer control valve  disconnected,

I used some metaphorical  language,

I checked the vacuum and it was about 22 on  the  vac. gauge at the 3000
rpm level,

I cleaned  the connections on the idle stabilizer  control unit as well
as  soldering a joint that had a small crack in the where  one if the  pins
from the plug attaches to the board,

I used a  little more metaphorical language.

The van still idles around 3500  rpm.  Any suggestions would be
appreciated.

Rico Dagastino
Memphis,  TN