Sounds like either a bad oxygen sensor or a bad temp sensor. The cold
starting difficulty
is a pretty obvious symptom for these two items.

Steven
91 Westy

On Thu, Nov 24, 2011 at 9:36 AM, Tom Torrella <ttorrella4@comcast.net>wrote:

> Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!
>
>
> i have an 83 Westie, 1.9L water-cooled with about 6k miles after rebuild.
>  It would run rough, stutter & lose power. Just had a similar problem last
> week running north on I-95 to MisThanksgivings in Awendaw, SC, pulled into
> gas station as it totally stalled @ a fuel pump. After several unsuccessful
> attempts to restart after filling up (10gal) we pushed off to the side.
> Motor cranks just no firing, no idling. While waiting over an hour for
> helpful calls I decided to change the fuel filter. VAROOM! Started right
> up!  Took several stops to find another filter. (keep one in case & fuel
> pump)
>
> Now, my new problem - hard cold starts. Starts, idles, stalls. Any
> attempts to press accelerator floods, misfires, stalls. The colder weather
> the worse the issue. After several minutes it warms up and runs fine. Looks
> like all vacuum lines are attached, no leaks heard, any ideas? Besides
> staying down south!
>
>
>
>
>
> On Nov 23, 2011, at 4:09 PM, jhlauterbach <jhlauterbach@BELLSOUTH.NET>
> wrote:
>
> > Hello Jim,
> >
> > Thank you for the suggestion.  I have spare ECU with me.  Will try in the
> > morning.  My FL home in a quiet neighborhood and garage lighting not the
> best.
> >
> > John
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: Old Volks Home <oldvolkshome@GMAIL.COM>
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Sent: Wed, November 23, 2011 2:59:53 PM
> > Subject: Re: Need instructions on field R&R of AFM '84 1.9L Van down
> >
> > John -
> >
> > I had a similar problem with my 84 Westy several years ago on a cross
> > country trip coming back from Tennessee to Southern California.  From
> > the Oklahoma line to Adrian, TX on I-40.  I stopped in Adrian to
> > refuel and swapped the ECU.  Fixed the problem, it was a worn-out or
> > bad ECU.  Always carry a spare ECU and AFM, along with a bunch of
> > other spare stuff under the rear seatbox when traveling and full-time
> > living in my Westy.  Sent the ECU to Python to fix, reinstalled it,
> > put the spare back in the seatbox.  Now that I'm running the "F"
> > European ECU (bought from the late Boston Bob) for the past few years,
> > I've kept the original rebuilt in the seatbox as a spare.  Never know
> > when yer gonna need it.
> >
> > Tested AFM, it was fine, but I keep a spare re-man as well.
> > --
> > Jim Thompson
> > 84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
> > 84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
> > 72 411 Station Wagon "Pug"
> > 75 914 1.8 "Nancy"
> > Full Timing Since March 1999
> > oldvolkshome@gmail.com
> > http://www.oldvolkshome.com
> > Find me on Facebook:
> > http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Thompson/100000710343835
> > ***********************************
> >
> > On Wed, Nov 23, 2011 at 7:13 AM, jhlauterbach
> > <jhlauterbach@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> >> I barely made it to my Florida home last night.  Started out from
> Macon,GA,
> >> where van had been running "like new."  About forty miles down I-75 van
> had
> >> of-and-on moments all the way to Valdosta (about 150 miles).  Van was
> idling
> >> rough but evened out after I filled the tank.  Went next fifty or so
> miles but
> >> then performance got erratic, especially when going up hills.  Finally
> made it
> >> to north side of Ocala and van would not idle when I got off I-75.
>  Refilled
> >> tank and made it across FL 40 and down US 17 to my home and into with
> only
> >> having to stop at one light.
> >>
> >> I suspect AFM.  My office is sending me my spare so it gets here Friday
> >> morning.  In the meantime, need to see if I can repair the one I have.
>  Need
> >> instructions on how to get top off AFM so I can clean contacts and make
> sure
> >> wires to connector are tight.
> >>
> >> Thank you,
> >>
> >> John
>