Date:         Wed, 2 Oct 2002 07:08:31 EDT
Reply-To:     Cotsford@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Cotsford <Cotsford@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: 1.9L loss of power, stalling
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hi Gang,

I too have had a couple of problems lately with my 1984 1.9.
I stopped to buy apples at the bottom of NC mountains and then it refused to
restart for a while .  It eventually did but with my foot down as if it was
flooded.
10 miles later it lost power and then cured itself when I floored it a couple
of times.

When I got home, I did the tantalum capacitor mod in the AFM ( I dont know if
this is valid for the 1.9 ?) and I cleaned the tracks with some alcohol and
applied a smear of Vaseline.     I also checked the fuel filter which
appeared OK (blew through it backwards).
About a week later, the van lost power again and then stalled on me at an
exit ramp.     About an hour later I managed to restart it, and limped home
about a mile.

Each time, I switched ECU, ignition module, coil, to no avail so I'm pretty
sure thats not where the problem lies.
Last thing I did was to apply Rid-Ox to the AFM plug and have not seen a
problem since.    I think I need new ignition cables though as I got a shock
from being close to one of them.
I recently repaired a crack in an exhaust pipe which I suppose may have
influenced the oxy-sensor.
I sort of suspect the AFM (I have 81 k miles on van).
Is there a way to check this unit out?
I have a feeling someone has a way of creating a new path on the
potentiometer.
I dont want to buy a new one without trying ( i'm cheap but the AFM is not
!!).

Thanks for help and ideas,
Steve