OK. I pulled the wires from the idle stabilizer and plugger them
together bypassing it and still get the varying rpm by 5-600 rpm and
the only real difference is it will in no way idle when it is cold.
Have to keep feathering the throttle until it warms up a bit then it
will hold a varying idle between 1000 and 1700 but it will idle. It
drives fine and has plenty of power, no pinging or sluggishness.
I checked a bunch of vacuum lines and repaired a few but I really dont
believe that vacuum leak would vary the idle. I checked on the plenum
where the accelerator cable connects and there is no end play and the
spring works well on closing it. It has nice steady pedal so I dont
believe that could be the problem either.
Because it drives out fine and the idle fluctuation seems to be the
only problem I cant say it is an emergency or a necessary repair but
it does bother me. Like the itch you cant reach to scratch. If anyone
has any opinions or ideas to try/check on please let me know. I figure
that once I get the idle thing straightened out then I can work on the
step up for the a/c.
I am wondering if there could be a mechanical issue iIE worn cam but
then I come back to it runs down the road fine actually better than
the 87 and that had a rebuilt motor just about 40,000 ago.
Would the solenoid units have anything to do with the idle even when
the stabilizer is bypassed?

On Aug 21, 2010, at 6:53 AM, Mary K Creasy wrote:

> 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.
>>>
>>>
>>