My '88 Westy does the exact same thing.
I spent last weekend making sure all the clamps on the afm were tight, and
cleaned it out with electrical cleaner. In addition, I used the unused threaded
holes in the AFM and each head to install a grounding wire from each to the the
engine block.

All of these helped a little bit, but the problem still remains.

My next step is to test the O2 sensor and temp2 sensor.

Todd
'88 Westy

Bob Norman wrote:

> my mothers '88 westy does this, has been for a couple of months.  I had
> thought that it may have to do with the AFM needing a squirt of
> electrical cleaner.  I had planned to do it this weekend.  But if I
> remember correctly, you've done this already, so I guess that's not the
> problem.
>
> Anyone?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Bob Norman
>
> Marshall Ruskin wrote:
> >
> > Hi Volks:
> >
> > My Westy initially starts and accelerates normally, ......
> >
> > and three blocks I stop at a light. The Westy then barely crawls away -
> > maybe 5 mph by the other side of the intersection. With the gas even
> > floored! SLOWLY it gathers speed, and seems to gain more power as the revs
> > come up. Then it seems mostly normal. It will repeat this at the next few
> > lights. It goes away after awhile.
> >
> > It does not usually do this when the engines good and hot, or after it's
> > been parked for only a couple of hours - it's worst first thing in the
> > morning.
> >
> > This is not like the bucking thing  - it is not bucking.
> >
> > Could it be ignition related?
> > Fuel-pump or pressure regulator related?
> > Vacuum leak related?
> >
> > Has anybody else experienced this - I've not heard of it before. I'm kinda
> > worried about it, as it's never done this before very recently.
> >
> > Marshall Ruskin
> > 84 Westy "Iron Igloo"
> > Founding Member of "Vanagon's Anonymous"