Date:         Wed, 16 Aug 2000 20:27:10 -0700
Reply-To:     Stephen Arbaugh <sneakers@oz.net>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stephen Arbaugh <sneakers@oz.net>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon Syndrome Harness
In-Reply-To:  <00f901c00746$32d07000$254f0a3f@pavilion>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hi all:

Thought I'd throw my .02c in here as I've just been thru this problem with
my '85. I experienced the hesitation and loss of power, sounded remarkably
like the mysterious and oft quoted vanagon bucking syndrome that Joel
points to in the service bulletins. Sooo, being a thrifty type who's
dangerous with a soldering iron, I bought said capacitor and wired it in
according to the directions. While it took the "edge" off the bucking, it
didn't come close to solving the problem. So I ordered a new afm from TBD,
and after a minor problem with it's shipping, I installed it and took it
for a drive. Well, it was worse than ever. It would idle fine, but no
amount of throttle was tolerated, and I literally idle'd my way home around
the block in 1st gear. Just for the sake of putting everything back the way
it was, I snipped one of the leads to the cap I'd soldered in, started it
up and I had my flat-four-friend back. Good throttle response, good power
(well, it is a stock 1.9, so take it for what it's worth), solid running.
I've still got the cap under the rubber boot of the wire harness by the afm
plug, but it's not in any position to put itself back into the circuit.

steve
'85 westy
kent, wa