I had a smilar problem.  Had to replace the computer (ECU).  You could find
a used one to try out first.  It if corrects the problem, you can then buy
it.  I ended up getting a new one ($540) in case the older ones had some
sort of gremlins. Good luck!
Jose

-----Original Message-----
From: Kristin Dewey <Bearlywood@AOL.COM>
To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 1998 1:18 AM
Subject: Still sputtering....

>Hi folks...
>Many of you gave me advice some months ago on the sputtering when
accelerating
>problem I was having with my 84 vanagon westie. Well, I've done many of
those
>things, and still.....we sputter. "Sputter, sputter, I'm impersonating a
van
>running out of gas pretending I'm about to stall on you, especially going
>uphill, sputter, sputter, I'm cutting out..I'm cutting out!!" The only
thing
>that seems to help is if I pull over and shut off the engine for a few
>minutes, then start 'er back up again...
>
>I'm not sure if this is the same problem Terence is having...mine happens
at
>2800-2900 rpm. It's especially bad, almost unbearable, going uphill. I
ALMOST
>stalled out completely going over Laurel Canyon last night.
>
>I've checked for water in the gas, I changed the fuel filter, checked the
>points and changed the plugs and wires and checked the battery and ground
>connections and changed the distributor cap and the rotor and the water
temp.
>switch and.....well? Any more ideas? Cause we're still sputtering...same as
>always.
>
>I think I might try replacing the airbox.
>
>I had some more suggestions, but I lost em all in a big MacCrash this week.
>:o(
>I know I could probably find more in the archives, but I just can't seem to
>get the hang of that thing, maybe I'm just not patient enough...or maybe it
>just requires a little more IQ than I have to spare at present.
>
>Any help would be greatly appreciated, especially from you folks who really
>know the 84...
>
>Thank you very much....
>     (Elvis accent)
>
>:o) Bearly