Tow things that you may want to check are the compression or see if your camshaft lobes are worn.  both of those were my problems and I had the same problem that you described.

Pete
peterz@gte.net
83.5 Vanagon
    -----Original Message-----
    From: Judith Barr/Leo Girard <lgirard@BMTS.COM>
    To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
    Date: Sunday, August 02, 1998 5:44 PM
    Subject: rough idling on starting 85 Vanagon
    
    
    Hi all,
    Tried finding "idling" in the archives, to no avail; reams of stuff pop up but no specific reference to my problem.
    A recent thread about the idle stabilizer might be of help. Naturally when all that good stuff was being posted I didn't have the problem. Is there a connection between posted messages and problems almost immediately developing....?....almost like the m�quina is a hypochondriac.
    Anyway just after starting it idles very roughly and the initial takeoff is really labored. After it has run for a few minutes, it runs great, super smooth. I've tried messing with the idle adjustment (CO2?) screw and maybe have leaned it out to much but have no way of fine tuning that particular adjustment. Anyone have the same problem? Anyone have a practical remedy? Where is the idle stabilizer located?
    Thanks again,
    Leo
    Meaford ON

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