Year and engine as the digifant and digijet work slightly different. In
either case the idle switch is not you problem. When cold it doesn't do
much. After the engine is warm enough to go "closed loop" (O2 sensor
control) the closed throttle switch turns off the injectors when the engine
is being overrun such as going down a hill in gear. Connected or not, open
or closed, the engine will start and idle. If the switch is closed when the
throttle is opened there will be cut out at about 1350 rpm for the 1.9 and
1600 rpm for the 2.1. Get the engine speed over that bump and then the
system will go for full throttle enrichment.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
William
Sent: Thursday, November 14, 2013 6:24 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: idle microswitch

This morning, I fired up my vanagon and everything sounded normal.  After
the engine idled for a short time, I put it into gear and started moving.
About half way down the street, it started loosing power and died.  I tried
to restart it three times and each time the engine idled for a short time
and died.  I suspected the idle switch and manually toggled the idle switch
many times making sure I heard the 'click' in the microswitch.  Nothing else
was touched.  I then started the engine and everything was back to normal.

The engine was cold. Was the switch stuck in idle mode or non-idle mode?

I have had prior problems with this switch not going into idle mode when the
throttle closes.  This caused a high rpm idle.  It sounds like I need to
replace the switch.  Is it still available or do I need to buy a generic
microswitch and design a new mounting bracket?

Thanks in advance for advice.

--
William

Live a balanced life. Learn some and think some, and draw and paint and sing
and dance and play and work every day some.
-Robert Fulghum, author (b. 1937)