Temp sensor II is certainly easy enough to change..
and not an expensive part.
Very worth a try.
You should have a spare one anyway in your rood kit ..
so even if  you get one and it doesn't make a difference..
not a waste of time/money/energy.

it does fit the symptom.
could be many other things, or more than one thing..
but worth trying.

poke around on your main large air boot...make sure it's not cracked ..
unlikely, but easy to check, and fits the symptom somewhat.
how's the trip going ?
Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rocket J Squirrel" <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, June 03, 2011 3:58 PM
Subject: Cold start issue

> Mellow Yellow (1.9L) and I are having a disagreement.
>
> First start of the day, not even terribly cold, like in the 40's
> (Fahrenheit), Mellow Yellow does not feel like starting. The starter
> turns, but the engine only catches half-heartedly.
>
> Flubada-flubada . . . <dies>.
>
> Crank again, give it a little gas.
>
> Flubada, <half-hearted "vroom", dies>
>
> Crank again . . . catches, weakly, give it some gas, it revs a bit, but
> resentfully, doesn't want to idle, then finally gets the idea.
>
> From that point on, throughout the day, the engine starts on the first
> touch of the starter.
>
> I say that it should start right away, like it always did until a month
> or so ago. It says that I'm not the boss of it and should leave it
> alone.
>
> Ideas?
>
> (It's the Temp II sensor, isn't it? It's always the Temp II sensor.)
> --
> Rocky J Squirrel