In a message dated 97-12-18 14:52:37 EST, jimhmc@MIT.EDU writes:

> The local VW repair shop has been testing my '87 Vanagon Syncro GL for a
>  couple of days.  The power cut out continues.  They have determined that
>  when it cuts out, there is no spark going through the coil, and suspect the
>  electronic distributor to be the culprit.  Tonight they will insert a
>  distributor from another vehicle (also '87) to see whether that is indeed
>  the weak link.  Jim McCarthy, '87 Westy, Somerville, MA.

I had a similar problem that I was able to deduce that the coil was not
getting the signal from the Digifant to "tell" it to spark.  As soon as we
deduced this, the whole problem went aaway and hasn't been back in the last 3
years!
Hope you're so lucky.

Good luck,
Jim Davis