Date:         Wed, 24 Apr 2002 18:25:31 -0500
Reply-To:     "Smola, Tony" <TSmola@TRIBUNE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Smola, Tony" <TSmola@TRIBUNE.COM>
Subject:      The Truth About Timing Your Vanagon
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

You guys,
You need to understand what your hardware actually does before disconnecting
it.  The engine stabilizer varies the timing at idle in order to achieve a
smoother idle....hence idle stabilizer.....DO NOT DISCONNECT  the timing
mark will bounces btdc and atdc depending on the feedback of the motor to
the ignition.   To set your timing on the 1.9L the stabilizer needs to be
disconnected in order to be able to "read" the mark properly...when done
reconnect the stabilizer for a smoother idle.......In order to lower the
idle screw in the idle speed screw on the throttle body......for 5 degrees
BTDC it will be about 1 to 1 1/2 turns out from closed.......which is all
the way clockwise
CHECK THE VACUUM LINES.......even that big one between the intake boot and
the oil vent tower on the crankcase.....this needs to be open and not
collapsed.....the oil filler gasket must also be in good condition and
screwed on tight......
Remember that there are color coded vacuum lines for the Vanagon.......red
is a certain size....green is another and black is another........
Call the dealer to get the numbers....but I know that I have green and red
near the distributor vacuum advance.....and the vacuum lines that go to the
diaphrams near the right rear of the engine compartment that affect the idle
when turning the steering too far or turning on the A/C.....

Malibu Tony  85' Westy

Craig Rogers Wrote: Re: Advancing timing

If you advance the timing sufficiently and disconnect the vacuum retard, you
should have no need for the idle stabilizer.  It is only there to advance
the timing when you are putting it under too much load for the retarded   (
I doubt this!)
timing.  This is just one more thing that breaks and can be disconnected.  (
This only breaks if you don't pinch it hard enough to disconnect the input
and output wires)
If your idle is too high after advancing the timing, this is normal.  The
engine is running better, so it runs faster.  Turn the idle speed down.  (By
screwing clockwise the idle speed screw on the throttle body)

Bill Wrote: > I have seen many references to the benefits of advancing the
timing on the
1.9l engine, so I decided to try it.  I found that if I advanced the timing
at all, the idle would start to surge (jumping between about 1000 RPM and
2500).  Any ideas?
>
> Some related info:  I have had a problem with the idle being rough.  The
engine runs ok (passes emissions with more margin than any other car I have
owned) but sounds kind of like it has a "hot" cam.  While setting the
timing, I noticed that the timing would vary by a degree or so, several
times a second.  I disconnected the idle stabilizer and adjusted the idle
speed to spec (it dropped significantly and the timing variation stopped
when I disconnected the stabilizer)  When I re-connected the idle
stabilizer, the idle speed was right and the timing variation was gone.  I
wonder if I have a bad idle stabilizer.
>
> Bill
>