hi John,
one..is it a 'hard' loss of power and response, or is it 'soft' ?

If it does it going down the road ...try quickly turning key off and then
back on..
let us know if that makes it 'go again.'

doubt that you have a tachometer..
but if you do observe if tach drops to zero during power loss...if it does,
points to ignition.

bypass your idle stabilizer as an experiment.
I found a pretty-darn-sure bad one recently.
Still looking for a source for  new ones.

the immediate restart, does not sound like a fuel issue.
sounds more like ignition.
fuel injection is pretty consistent in terms of 'won't go/does go' ..
might 'go' poorly ..
but 'usually' FI 'works' more or less.

fwiw..
you wouldn't believe how many waterboxer vanagons I find with throttle
switches not making contact at idle.
just found one today ..
83 westy-
dead 02 sensor,
galled/striped O2 sensor threads.
throttle switch not making contact ..
it's 'out of tune at idle' I say.
may have a fuel tank issue as well.
and more .

I just did an 84 westy..
long history of cutting out ..runs again in a while.
Did Hall Sender, new igniter, new coil, good used Idle stabilizer..
I have not heard that it's not running consistently so it might be. .
and ..it ran way, way smoother and stronger at low to mid rpm after those
parts !
I still think it has a tired AFM due to 'uneven' acceleration.

also ..
ignition switch ..
always consider that. not too likely, but a small underbuilt part, known for
causing problems.

say if it's an abrupt 'hard' shut off, or a soft one. please.
Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Lauterbach" <jhlauterbach@BELLSOUTH.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2011 1:48 AM
Subject: Right turn into driveway kills engine (1.9L '84 2-WD)

> My mechanic had my van for a week and the only thing he could find that
> he thought was causing sporadic engine shutoffs was a dirty fuel filter.
>
> Engine runs great, except that it will shut off on its own when idling
> for more than a minute or so at a traffic light or when I turn into my
> driveway.  I coast by house next to mine and make a sharp right turn
> into my driveway.  Engine starts losing RPMs.  Idle stabilizer tries to
> recover lost RPMs, but can't do enough.  Engine immediately restarts.
>
> Above happens with full fuel tank or near empty one.
>
> John