Millee,�

I've seen similar issues before.� Make sure that you have a good ground strap 
connection.� Take the existing strap and�move it around/yank it to make sure it 
is not corroded and worthless.� If it is replace it.

Also check that the brain /the ECU is well attached, grounded and does not flop 
around or move.

I would also check that the ignition switch is functioning.� Easy to check when 
you have the engine running, wiggle the wires the ignition switch and see it it 
cuts out.� You will have to remove the plastic shield to do that.� If it 
faulters, it is time to replace the plastic ignition connector switch.

Good Luck
Joel Cort
Rochester NY 

jcort@rochester.rr.com
joel_cort@yahoo.com

�

________________________________

Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2010 10:47:01 -0500
From: Millee Tibbs <millee.tibbs@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: 1985 Westy Vanagon shutters, dies, and then resurrects... help.

Dear VW community,

I'm new to this list and I hope that this email is not our of line. I'm
on
my second vanagon, a 1985 Westy (named Sally), and she seems to be alive
(and moody!) I was hoping that some one might recognize her symptoms and
let me know what might be going on. (And yes, I refer to her as a
person...
surely you'll understand).

Since I have owned her she has had a problem where, when underload, she
shutters (hiccups, loses power, seems to lug even though she's in the
proper
gear). This also happens a lot when we go over rough roads. When I first
got her, this would happen often and eventually she would stall. If I
waited long enough she would start up again and be fine. I changed the
distributor cap and cables (bosch). I brought her to the mechanic and he
adjusted her air flow meter (at the time I was at 7000 feet) and he put
in a
new (used) coil. She continued to shutter, but she stopped stalling and
always started right up. As I drove to the east coast and down to sea
level
she got a lot better.

Recently, however, she has started to die again. Normally, she starts
back
up pretty quickly. Lately I've noticed a burning smell right before she
loses power. Twice now, when I've gone to start the ignition after she's
been parked for awhile, she won't turn over. The first time this
happened I
thought it was the battery - possibly due to an old battery and cold
weather. We jumped it and it started right up. This weekend, it happened
again. I called AAA, but the jump wouldn't start her. Two days later, I
gave a friend the keys just to check and see if she would start and,
magically it would seem, she did. Cold weather seems to be a determining
factor. What is going on??

On a potentially related note, there seems to be something wacky going
on
with the wiring. When it rains or is humid, the radio won't work until
the
vans been running for about 10 minutes. In addition, the odometer
doesn't
work at all.

I don't want to take her to a mechanic to do diagnostic work again until
I
have an idea of what needs to be fixed. She never does what I say she
does
in their presence and they still charge me a small fortune without
really
having fixed the problem.

Thank you in advance for any and all suggestions.
--
Millee Tibbs
www.milleetibbs.com