the text below that starts ...'you are on a longer trip'...
and describes bucking, loss of power, and after a restart it's fine ...

that is about "Vanagon Syndrome" and there is an adapter harness fix for
that. it's not the AFM itself. And your 2.1 waterboxer should have that
special adapter harness fitted in any case.

however, for minor hiccupping ...
that is distinctly a characteristic of an AFM that is badly worn in one spot
where the wiper arm contacts what it rubs on inside the AFM.
there are tricks to overcome that which you can read about online in several
places I'm sure......but the real normal fix is a new or rebuilt AFM.

it could be other things ..but 'usually' ..and for sure ...
unexplained minor hiccups ( good word to describe it btw ) ....AFM baby.
"usually." .

Scott
www.turobavans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "georgejoann@juno.com" <georgejoann@JUNO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 7:28 AM
Subject: Re: 91 Carat has the highway hick ups

  If it's acting like the description below, the trouble may be in the AFM.
Try a google lookup on vanagon syndrome.

  Copied from first entry:

>> You are on a longer trip, the wasserboxer has been humming along for
>> several hours and runs really good. Then all of a sudden,
>> out-of-the-blue, the engine cuts out.  The vanagon lurches, loses power,
>> and starts bucking.  You pull over and shut it off.  A little later, you
>> restart the motor, and it runs just fine.  Sometimes this might not
>> happen again for a long time, or if you are not so lucky, the vanagon
>> might start this syndrome all over again after only a few minutes of
>> driving.  Sometimes the cutting out is very slight, barely
>> noticeable...<<

George/ATL