Carl,

My 87 wolf did the same thing turned out to be the distributor. Used to
get a funny tach dance with it also, tach would peg redline, go to zero
back to 5 grand then zero and stall. The dealer diagnosed it when they
could not start it to pull it in the garage. Got a new one from the bus
depot and had the dealer install it. Saved a bundle. Other list members
said it might have been the hall sender on the distributor, but I just
replaced the whole thing.
Don't know if this will help, but good luck.

mike
87 westy
harrisburg, PA

Carl Hammerdorfer wrote:
>
> HI,
>
> First posting so I hope I'm doing this correctly.
>
> Our vanagon, with a super engine that will pull us up to Summit
> County at a high rate of speed, has developed what I think is an
> electrical failure.  Three months ago on hwy 25 it cut out
> completely at 65 mph.  I pumped the gas but it just died.  Got
> on the shoulder and coasted and a few seconds later it ran
> again. Went the other 90 miles to Colorado Springs without
> incident.
>
> On the way home it did it again, once.  Then the problem
> disappeared for a few weeks.  But now it's back with a
> vengance.  It does it frequently and at all speeds, so much so
> that my wife refuses to haul the kids in it.  I learned that
> when it cuts out I can switch the ignition off and then back on
> (with clutch in and then pop it when I switch it back on) and
> that eliminates the problem for anywhere from 30 seconds to a
> week. Lately more often 30 seconds.
>
> I've replaced the coil, but that didnt' do anything. Someone
> told me there might be a static electricity problem in the "air
> box" (we live at 5000 feet and frequently drive above 10000), so
> I bought a $160 "air intake harness" from the dealer.  Total rip
> off, since it looks like it costs 25 cents to make. Fixed it for
> a few days but the problem is still with us now.
>
> Don't know what else to describe.  Anyone heard of this problem?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Carl