I've had an experience similar to Jason's, earlier this year I tore my '85 1.9 down all the way to the block and replaced EVERY seal, gasket, vacuum line, fuel line, etc. Before on cold starts the van would stall anywhere from 1-2 times until it warmed up a bit. After replacing everything, it would fire right up and I could put it in gear and drive right off. BUT, I started getting the surging idle, but only occasionally, so in my case I have decided to just ignore it-happens maybe once a month, and seems to occur if I let it sit and idle for more than a minute or two. Jeff Jeff Stewart ----- Original Message -----
> At 01:17 AM 10/26/2011 -0400, you wrote:
> >vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> When I first got my 1983 Vanagon GL 1.9 it was running ok but had a
> off and
> on surging like I was at the gas pedal revving the engine. After
> changing
> all of the vacuum lines(which needed to be done anyway) I found that
> now it
> was doing it all of the time!! From asking around I found that there
> is a
> idle screw right under where your accelerator cable connects to the
> engine.
> It is at the base of the assembly and it is a big flathead screw. If
> you
> turn it one way it gets worse, and of course turn it the other and it
> smooths out. Im not sure if your 1987 GL with the 2.1 would have the
> same
> setup but I dont see why it wouldnt be similar. Good Luck!!
> Victor 1983 1.9wb4spd
> Jason Orr