Hello Scott:

Yes, I have a tachometer (updated instrument cluster).  Yes, it is a
slow kill, not instant off.  Yesterday afternoon, I took the entrance to
my driveway very slowly and the engine did not die.  I then pulled up to
the point on my driveway where I stop, open the garage door with the
door opener, and do a sharp left turn into the garage.  It is a slight
downhill into the garage so van will move on its own once I let uo on
the brake pedal.  As the front of the van went under the door opening,
engine started struggling, and RPMs went down to 200-400 for a few
seconds before engine died.  I could immediately restart the engine.

Any ideas on what to do next?

John

On Tue, 2011-07-12 at 02:18 -0700, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
> 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