Perhaps your wire to the O2 sensor is being grounded out somewhere.
I suggest checking the continuity of the wire from end to end.

Marshall Ruskin
84 Westy
-----Original Message-----
From: Dana E Hager <dehager@IX.NETCOM.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Wednesday, April 14, 1999 6:44 PM
Subject: Re: The Dying 86 Vanagon - engine cuts out

>I am still having the same problem with my '87 Syncro Westy. To date I
>have changed the O2 and Engine temp sensors, wires, cap, rotor, and
>checked injectors, fuel pressure, all grounds and connectors. After
>building a Digifant tool and installing it in the van I found out that
>it still does it when I don't have the tool plugged in (ha, ha). All
>sensors are working fine. BUT ... as soon as I plug in the O2 sensor it
>all goes to hell, unplugged it run fine. So is it the ECU ??? I hate to
>buy a used one (not reconditioned) because I would not know if the PO
>drove around with the O2 sensor unplugged. Any ideas ???
>
>Dana E Hager
>Nazareth, PA
>
>84 Vanagon GL
>87 Westy Syncro
>
>> Anyone have any new insights?
>>
>> Any new advice will be greatly appreciated.
>>
>
>
>> Background:  My 86 Vanagon, with an extraordinarily strong
>> motor, dies on me from time to time.  I can bring it back to
>> life -at any speed- by simply switching the ignition switch off
>> and on.  It does not seem to respect any pattern in it's dying.
>> It does it when it's hot, when it's cold, when it's wet, when
>> it's dry, up-hill, downhill.....
>>
>> to be a loud clicking or slapping of the valve to the left
>> of the mass air sensor.
>>
>