Date:         Sat, 29 Jan 2000 11:36:13 -0800
Reply-To:     Doktor Tim <doktortim@ROCKISLAND.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Doktor Tim <doktortim@ROCKISLAND.COM>
Subject:      Re: Solved Bizarre 2.1L: Idle problem
In-Reply-To:  <20000129191042.18407.qmail@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 02:10 PM 01/29/2000 EST, you wrote:
>Hello
>
>The cause of the fast idle problem turned out to be the idle stabilizer
>valve. This is the second problem I have had with the idle stabilizer system
>in the past month! I recently replaced the stabilizer control unit.
>
>Thanks to Ken Wilfy and Peter Buettner who responded to me with the answer.
>
>Now to find a good used replacement! (I hope)

We know the original that has failed is 13 years old, if it was the
original. How many miles were on it? If you want the next one to last that
long and not fry another control unit within a month or year or two and or
go foul itself in short order, consider a new valve for another looooong
trouble free life of both the valve and control unit. Always when a
transitorized control unit is determined to be non-functional, check for
the item that killed it, in this case the worn motor valve and resistance
therefrom, so you don't risk frying the new control unit with the cause of
the failure unaddressed.

It always takes more time/money to actually resolve the problem than to
just get things running again RIGHT NOW at the LOWEST possable immediate
cost, not to mention frustration and schedule mayhem from compromises that
can ensure a repeating failure on a supposed daily driver.

Less failure is more money in pocket, regardless the immediate cost of
actual repair required to ensure systems efficacy.

Don't have the time/money to do it right? Where will you find the
time/money to do it over?

Know that compromise adds to risk. Be realistic about your risk tolerance.
Do as thy will.

T.P. Stephens aka Doktor Tim
San Juan Island, WA