My van was dying when I turned the wheel over all the way to where it stopped when the car was cold - I think.  The vacuum lines where old and cracked - since I fixed them this hasn't happened.  $6 or so of vacuum line and 15 minutes time to replace them - might be worth a look.

Dan
L.A., CA
'85 Westy Weekender
On Jul 16, 2011, at 9:28 AM, John Lauterbach wrote:

> 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