Melissa,

Is it possible that your Vanagon backfired when you first started up?  I
know it is hard to tell, but if the backfire occurred up the intake, you
may have a problem. There's a "possibility" that the air flow meter is
warped, and is binding, or does not fit its bore correctly anymore.

I seem to recall this was a common ailment to the AFM on the L-Jetronic
Porsche 914, which uses the same fuel injection system.

To check it, remove the air cleaner and poke the air flow meter gently with
a stick, or similar  probing, pokey type item in the direction the air
would normally flow (into the motor).  The action should be smooth, and
without hesitation.

Although you may have already done so, I would also recommend inserting a
new set of Bosch plugs.

Hope this helps,

G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
www.bulley-hewlett.com
Cary, NC USA
888.468.4880 tollfree

-----Original Message-----
From:   Melissa E. Mourkas [SMTP:legacy@JAVANET.COM]
Sent:   Monday, April 19, 1999 2:10 PM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        81 Air-Cooled Vangon Stalling at Warm Idle

Stalled!  My 1981 air-cooled Vanagon has been stalling regularly since I
got it out of winter storage.  Stalling occurs as I decelerate and engage
the clutch, either in preparation for a turn or a stop, and the engine
drops to idle speed. Then she dies. This only occurs after the engine has
warmed up, about 10 minutes into driving.  Then it occurs pretty
consistently.

Overall, the performance was a little lackluster after sitting ina cold
barn all winter, so I have run through a tank of gas and added Techron to
clean out whatever gunk may be hanging around.  However, I doubt these
things are all at all related to my stalling problem.

I have searched the Type 2 archives and will perform a Vanagon archives
search as well, but time is of the essence.  So, any ideas or help,
please respond to me directly as well as to the list. I need to get on
the road!

Thanks!
legacy@javanet.com

Melissa Mourkas
Haydenville, MA
81 Westy 'Hildie'