Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 23:17:05 -0400
Reply-To: Laurence Smith <smithlau@ATTCANADA.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Laurence Smith <smithlau@ATTCANADA.CA>
Subject: Re: Idle Stabilizer
In-Reply-To: <5.1.0.14.2.20010918173517.00a6b860@pop3.norton.antivirus>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Could be the idle stabilizer control unit which is in the cavity behind the
rear right light (your have to take off the light assembly to get at it).
I think the idle stabilizer valve controls air flow to smooth out the idle.
But this valve operation is switched on and off by the idle stabilizer
control unit - a circuit board with lots of wires going in and out of it.
Laurence Smith
90 Westy
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of John Clavin
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2001 6:55 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Idle Stabilizer
Well, my continuing quest to eliminate the stumbling on my 85 Vanagon GL
(270,000 mi) has led me this week to the idle stabilizer. A new round of
problems with intermittent stumbling has reoccurred after several weeks of
too-good-to-be-true driveability.
The latest is accompanied by wild jumps in the tach even when the engine
appears to be idling or running correctly. Also occurring are some brief
periods of unexplained refusals to start which then mysteriously and
suddenly end. When leaving work today, I had another episode of
not-starting and decided to bypass the idle stabilizer. Not only did the
vanagon start, it seems to run better than ever, except for a tendency to
want to stall if I don't nurse the gas a little at idle.
So, my questions are:
What is inside the idle stabilizer? Has anybody opened one or tried to
repair it? Seems to me a worthwhile diversion while waiting for a new one.
Any clues on how to proceed welcome. I am assuming it has a circuit board
which I can expose by cutting the top off around the base.
Is there any problem to just leave it off the vehicle while waiting for a
new one? I can live with the poor idle.
What is the right P/N? Mine says it is P/N 321 906 083, but the list
vendors show it as 251 906 083. (Could be they changed numbers. The one
currently on my vehicle was put on by the dealer circa 1985 under warranty).
Thanks in advance,
John Clavin