Date:         Mon, 21 Oct 2002 21:56:19 -0700
Reply-To:     Craig Oda's Personal email <craig@ODA-INC.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Craig Oda's Personal email <craig@ODA-INC.NET>
Subject:      idle Control Stabilizer
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

hello vanagon community, for several months, I've been trying to
isolate a problem with stalling when I first start the engine and have
a few minutes of idle hunting.  about 2 months ago I replaced my
auxiliary air regulator, which fixed the problem, but then I cracked a
cylinder head and replaced it.  Since then, my idle was rough, hunting
and I would stall during the first few minutes I started the engine.
Actually, the situation was worse than before I replaced the auxiliary
air regulator.

Well, I've been checking for vacuum leaks, tighented my intake manifold
gaskets, changed all the tubing for my vacuum lines, was spraying carb
cleaner all around to check for leaks, checked the seals near the air
filter... and on and on.  I also asked around several places about
whether an idle control stabilier would solve the problem.  You see,
when I bought the van, the PO had taken the idle control stabilizer
out.  Well, most people said it was a vacuum leak, which I still may
have.  However, after buying an idle control stabilizer for $30 from
Bus Depot, my problem with rough idle and idle hunting has been solved.
 I think that I have some other parts of the engine that aren't working
properly and I may have vacuum leaks someplace.  However, with the
addition of this $30 gizmo, I now have smooth idle after start.

My van is a 1983 watercooled Westy with Digijet fuel injection.  The
1983-1985 models use a different idle control stabilizer than the later
1986 and on models.  In my case with the 1983 van, my problem was
solved.  However, it might not be the solution to all problems like
this.

I just thought I would pass on this information in the event that it
might be useful to someone else out there.

-- Craig

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