Date:         Mon, 28 May 2001 22:02:14 -0700
Reply-To:     Jere & Beth Hawn <jbrschawn@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jere & Beth Hawn <jbrschawn@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Van cuts out
Comments: To: Blake Thornton <thornton@MATH.UTAH.EDU>
In-Reply-To:  <Pine.GSO.4.21.0105281520590.20093-100000@sunfish.math.utah.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"

Blake,

I'm not exactly sure if it is applicable to your year. But there is a small
wiring harness that VW sold that goes between the air box and the air box
harness.  The vanagon had a grounding problem that would show up after
driving a while, but you might also look further into this.

Jere
90 GL
88 GL

 -----Original Message-----
From:   Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]  On Behalf Of
Blake Thornton
Sent:   Monday, May 28, 2001 2:30 PM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Van cuts out

While driving along the freeway today at about 65mph, my van (84 westy)
would cut out for a second or two.  About every ten minutes, it would just
cut out, just as if the key was turned off.  I haven't fiddled around yet,
but it for some reason, I don't think its fuel related, it sure seemed
electrical.

And, as a perhaps related issue, my idle is fairly rough.  My van's idle
goes from a nice sounding smooth idle, to sounding like none of the
cylinders are firing (for only a couple seconds) and then back to the good
idle for another couple seconds.  I haven't played around with too much,
but I did replace most of the vacuum lines, so Idon't think its a vacuum
leak.  But it seems related to what was happening on the freeway today.

My only two thoughts are: ignition coil and ECU.  I'll probably give these
a try this week.  When I looked at Bus depot for an ignition coil, it
lists a coil for 80-84 vanagons (and its only about $20) and then another
for 85-91 vans (and its $50).  For some reason, it doesn't make sense to
me that the water cooled 84's would have the same coil as the air cooled
vans.  Anyone know about this?

Any other ideas of things to consider?

Thanks,
Blake
84 Westy
SLC, ut