Date:         Sun, 11 Feb 2001 20:29:21 -0600
Reply-To:     Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Larry Alofs <lalofs@ENTERACT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Hesitation shuffle
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Todd Last wrote:

> Thanks to all the list members who offered suggestions.
>
>  I think the main culprit is the AFM. I checked with a multimeter and it
> had a non-linear response.
>

Your diagnosis and fix may be correct, but you should be cautious about
interpreting resistance measurements from a multimeter in this case. Bentley
says only that the resistance should "vary" as you move the vane.  They are
purposely vague about *how* it should vary.   The rather unusual
construction of the AFM means that the resistance measurement does not vary
in the way you would expect for a typical potentiometer or rheostat.  A
better testing method is to connect a 1.5 V cell across the two end
terminals and watch the voltage at the terminal connected to the slider
while you move the vane.  Of course behavior on the workbench may not be the
same as that in the car, vibrating, etc.
  You may still want to try the "capacitor fix", or the official VW remedy
($$).

Larry A.
Chicago
91 GL  (Still not sure that my capacitor will fix it!)