In a message dated 98-07-17 22:45:59 EDT, Spitzwagen@AOL.COM writes:

>I have an '86 Westy 2.1 Liter water cooled digifant that developed the
>dreaded high idle condition.  The van would do 50 MPH foot off the
accelerator.
<snip>
>I then decided to open up the unit.
>After some VERY CAREFUL prying I got it open and observed that one
>component of the circuit board had been subjected to heat(brown area around
>solder connections and the black paint or whatever had peeled off the
component
>itself revealing a silver metal looking area underneath.)   This  is a small
>black rectangular  component mounted vertically on the board.
<snip>
>  I have read in the archives that somebody may know how to test and replace
>  individual components of the idle stabilizer.  I wanna try some VW brain
>  surgery.
<snip>

Try this:
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Recently I related the story of my 87 Syncro suddenly developing a +4,400 RPM
idle.  I traced this to the Idle Control Module located forward of the
right/rear taillight.  The dealer said list was $208.  I called several
wreckers and was quoted from $80 to $20 for this item.  I bought the $20 one
and it arrived yesterday.

Meanwhile I was pursuing repairing the bad module.  Inside the module I
discovered two components that were suspect.  The first one, a voltage
stabilizer transistor was definitely fried.  I found (from my 88 Vanagon
module) a company logo: SGS in tall narrow letters pushed up against
eachother & other numbers were BD 438 and 9  741.  I found that an ECG or NTE
185 was a replacement component for it.  The other component was a rectifier
diode that had some signs of being overheated but was not overtly fried as
the other component had been.  The diode had the numbers  GP15G-7001 and GI
   8641.  I thingk the GI is for General Instruments.  Well, found that it
could be replaced with an NTE 125 or ECG 125.

Yesterday, I installed the two new components and the bottom line is that
after poping the module back in, my van idles normally again!  :)

Cost?
NTE185:   $2.25
NTE125:     $.88

Total:       $3.13 + tax

Compared to dealer list, I saved about $205. - that's 98.5% less!!  :)   :)
  :)
So now I've gone from needing a new module to having a spare for future use.
:)

Jim Davis
87 GL Syncro
88 GL Wolfsburg