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Subject:Re: 85 Vanagon dying while driving
From:Caston/Payne
Date:Sun, 11 Jul 1999 12:44:30 -0400

>    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.

I agree that the most likely culprit is the ECU. There is a fellow on the
list that rebuilds these if you can't find a reasonably priced used one. At
the dealer they are tres expensive!
Later,

Dave & Sherrie
Williamsburg, VA
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