First check fuel pressure and flow, then check the airflow meter for the
bucking problem - most likely suspect.

My money is on the ECU for the answer to the "off-again-on-again" thing,
although there is a slight possibility the ignition control module, idle
stabilizer or even the ignition wiring harness could cause this. In my
experience, if turning the key to the off position and immediately
restarting is the only thing it takes to get it running again and there are
no other symptoms at the same time, well, I'd be looking for a known good
ECU for testing purposes (after checking the harness and inputs/outputs from
the main plug at the computer first, per Bentley).
Coby

Valley Wagonworks
"Intimately acquainted with VW Vans since 1959"

Volkswagen Bus, Vanagon, Westfalia and Eurovan
Repair and Service Specialists

1535 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo, CA 94933
Voice:(415) 457-5628
Fax: (415) 457-0967
http://wagonworks.com
mailto:contact@wagonworks.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf Of
Alfred Bagdan
Sent: Friday, July 09, 1999 11:10 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: 85 Vanagon dying while driving

Hi my name is Alfred.
Can anyone help with this problem I am having with my 85 Vanagon 1.9
standard transmission:
Starts fine when cold, runs fine until hot, also runs fine at highway
driving but when in slow traffic occasionally starts
violent bucking. Also when slowing down it can't have a nice even pull. It
seems to have a lot of play in the throttle, i.e. it surges too much or
slows too much.
Another problem is that sometimes when easing up on the gas or going down
hill the engine dies.  To fix this I simply turn off the ignition key and
turn it on again (standard transmission) and it runs fine until next time
which may be tomorrow or next week, its totally unpredictable.
I have already had the temperature sensor problem years ago, but this
problem is different.  Van starts when hot but runs rough at slow speeds
while driving.(Idling when parked runs fine too)
Thanks in advance for any help.