I have pulled a lot of the VW dealer syndrome harnesses from Jettas and
Golfs with Digifant at the junkyards so certainly those cars had issues
and somebody thought that was a solution.

Improved seat of the pants running after unplugging the O2 sensor
doesn't always prove the O2 sensor should be replaced. There are many
other problems that can be masked when the ECU stops tying to correct
the exhaust reading it gets from the O2 sensor. You could just be
shooting the messenger. My car alarm used to go off every night after
closing time at the bar down the street. Unhooking the alarm kept it
from waking me up but that didn't mean I could sleep soundly.

Mark

Daniel O Stevens wrote:
> Don, I don't believe the Digifant I4s get Vanazgon syndrome..
> But can get a very similar symptom if/when the O2 fails to read/adjust properly.
> And you get severe bucking.. in mine I unplugged the O2 and that set it into rich mode and no more bucking and no real driveability issues outside a slight increase in fuel consumption.
>
> So with a 1.8l I4 van that bucks try to disconnect the O2 wire before jumping to any conclusions.
> If it stops the symptom, then that's in need of replacement.
>
> Dan in NY
>
>
>
> Date:    Fri, 18 Oct 2013 07:44:34 -0700
> From:    Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: What IS Vanagon Syndrome, exactly?
>
>     Like the subject says.   I just saw a few posts about a Digifant inline
> VW powered vanagon traveling the southwest, like I soon will be doing
> again...   He says he's having engine cutting-out problems and someone
> suggested he is experiencing "Vanagon Syndrome"..  I've seen this mentioned often before, but it got my attention this time, since this fellow traveler
> seems to be driving a similar Vangaon to mine.   I 'assumed' us inline
> drivers were immune from Vanagon Syndrome...but that may not be the case?
>
>