Bj�rn, get a digitool from Darrell Boehler at "Darrell Boehler"
<midwesty@midwest.net> or go to his web site at http://208.213.2.237/VW/

When my wife and I were at BBTT, we used Karl Bloss's digitool during our road
cruise to test the performance of our van. We were having a idle surging problem.
By the end of that afternoon we were able to determine exactly what was
misbehaving: the idle stabilizer valve.

With advice found in the archives, we were able to cure the problem completely. Of
course, we now have a digitool of our own.

Larry and Avery Johnson
'86 Syncro Westfalia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bj�rn wrote:

> I am asking for some helpful thoughts or pointers on an intermittent idle
> surge problem. I could not find anything conclusive in the archives, so here
> it goes:
>
> My 87 Syncro occasionally has a fast idle of about 2200 rpm. This is
> happening during warm up phase and when engine is at operating temperature.
> Also the engine occasionnally balks in the transition from deceleration to
> acceleration (as the fast idle is pushing and the car is slowing).
>
> I suspect the idle stabilizer, but since it is an item that costs more than
> can$200 new and can$125 used, I want to be sure. The idle stabilizer is
> humming but I do not have a CO tester to verify its operation. Since it is
> happening in cold and warm operations I am excluding oxygen sensor and
> coolant sensor. The complicating factor is also that the problem is
> intermittent and it is raining and cold which dampens my enthusiasm about
> any repairs.
>
> What else could it be?
> The airflow meter? (maybe but it would affect other rpms too)
> the air temperature sensor?
> the idle switch? (it probably needs adjustment but it should not couse surges)
> the fuel shut off on deceleration? (possible)
> The relays in front of the right rear light?
>
> Give me some thoughtful pointers before I get my hands dirty.
>
> Bj�rn Ratjen

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