You both got it ! There are two solenoid units on the fire wall right side
with power leads and vacuum lines.  When the A/C is activated it sends a
signal to one of these and it opens to kick up the idle.  Power steering
pump also sends signals ( or is it the rack ).
Not the best at delivering the needed idle bump though IMOP
Dave Creasy
'85 Westy
'93 EVMV
'98 Beetle
--------------------------------------------------
From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2010 12:33 AM
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Subject: Re: a/c loads the system down and it stumbles and dies

>  You got it! There is a system to step up the idle and also when the
> power steering reached the limits of turning. Though I had an '85 GL
> years ago, I have forgotten how it worked. But the system is there. It
> is also on the '88 GL's and later, but it's jsut a bit differernt. Maybe
> some of the other Volks can step in here and answer the specifics, but
> rest assured, you are on the right track.
>
> John Rodgers
> Vanagon Driver
> '88 GL x 2, '91 Carat.
>
> On 8/20/2010 11:00 PM, A J wrote:
>> I have an 85 with a 1.9. I posted earlier with issues during idling
>> where it would run up the idle to 1300-1400 and then drop to 500-550.
>> Well with alot of testing and simple clean and fix I have a smooth
>> idle at 1050-1000. But now when I turn on the A/C this wont idle at
>> all. will do about a ten second shutter and shake the just die. It
>> runs and idles fine without the air. The biggest problem at the idle
>> was core was loose dirty corroded ground cables Must have been 6
>> different cables all on this one bolt,. Unbolted them all cleaned and
>> sanded them  including the motor ground, Sanded the paint from the
>> grounding point assembled all the now clean wires and connectors
>> covered them with di-electric grease and bolted it all back on. While
>> I was sweaty and dirty I decided to make a separate new ground to
>> chassis from the engine.. I used #6#stranded copper with cable
>> connectors and bolted this onto the motor,securely and the other end
>> to the firewall where I ground down the contact point to clean solid
>> metal, I am now positive the motor has a good solid proper ground. I
>> coated everything with di-electric grease so that should hold it for
>> several years.
>> What can be causing the A/C to kill the motor. I am looking for a step
>> up on the linkage and there is none, Somewhere there has to be a step
>> up or a kickdown to raise the idle so the a/c will work. Any ideas or
>> suggestions?
>> Thanks for all the help guys. It saves what little is left of my hair.
>>
>>
>