Sounds suspiciously like a problem I have with my '91 Carat. I haven't
tackled the problem yet - so can't say for sure - BUT  -- some of our
gurus - and especially Scott Daniel  who has had considerable experience
with this - insist that the difficulty is the throttle switch. The
settings for the thing is critical and wear and whatever can really foul
things up. This is a sorely neglected maintenance point. Nobody checks
it  - they just drive until the engine sputters and quits - then they
"holler for the calf rope!"

Good luck.

John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com

On 1/24/2011 9:51 AM, Mark Carrig wrote:
> Just got back from an 1179 mile trip to the Alabama and Florida beaches.
>
> LOVES me some Florabama !
>
> Upon arriving home, 2 miles from my house, I'm crossing an intersection and the Vanagon goes to die. I pump the gas a bit and it catches, only to die as I coast into a gas station.
>
> At this point, my gas is just a wee bit under a 1/4 tank, way above the red.
>
> So I fill it to 1/2 tank anyhow.
>
> Try to start it again, and it will rev to 1000 rpm, drop to next to nothing, pickup again and rev to 1000, drop, rev to 1000, on and on for a bit and then eventually die.
>
> If you attempt to give it gas it dies immediately.
>
> Before the trip I had a complete tune up, plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor, even a new mass air flow meter.
>
> I changed out my fuel pump and filter with known good ones and still the same issue.
>
> Bypassed the idle control module and connected to two plugs together and the same symptoms.
>
> Possibly the throttle position switch ?
>
>
> What to check next ?
>
> This is a 1985 Vanagon, stock 1.9 Boston Bob motor, about 5 years old.
>
> Thanks !
>
>
>
>
>