Date:         Thu, 19 Dec 2002 06:26:49 EST
Reply-To:     RAlanen@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: repairing the idle stabilizer unit?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

In a message dated 12/18/2002 3:19:46 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

> Re: repairing the idle stabilizer unit?
> 
       Funny thing is I have one on my desk also that I just opened up and 
see some burnt components.  Must be they are all dying at the same time.  I 
think this is the problem to my "cold start problem" that I was inquiring 
about last week.  I have two units here and using either one of them did not 
change the erratic idle on cold start.  I decided to open one up and found a 
burnt transistor or so it seems.  I am presuming the other, original one is 
probably the same story inside.  I will open it up soon and have a look.  So, 
this topic of repairing this little box is especially intriguing to me in 
light that the cost of this little box is so astronomical.  My dealer price 
is around $350 CND with suggested retail at just over $400 CND.  OUCH big 
time !  I see the Bus Depot has them for $239 or $249, I forget exactly, but 
whatever there must be a cheaper fix for this guy.  The number for the 
transistor, BD 438, from the message in the archives, where did it come from 
?  I see no number on the transistor on the board I have here.  Would an 
electronics supply shop know this information ?  I also see what looks like 
to be a capacitor that has some burnt marks around it.  I suppose it must be 
removed to test it ?  At least it has markings on it so it probably can be 
procured and replaced.   Forging ahead on repair of the idle stabiliser 
control unit !

Cheers  

Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm">BusFusion</A> a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 12 ~ 15, 2003
'87 Westy & Lionel Trains
Member: <A HREF="http://www.vanagon.com/">Vanagon List</A>, <A HREF="http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/">LiMBO</A>, <A HREF="http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/">IWCCC</A> & Capital City VW Club 
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm">STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Mufflers</A>  
<A HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html">Frank Condelli & Associates</A> or http://frankcondelli.com