Date:         Wed, 26 Mar 2003 21:54:41 EST
Reply-To:     DSF70@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dustin Fitch <DSF70@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Idle Gremlins & Radiator Frogs
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hey all.  I have a question for you on idle in an '85 digijet, 1.9L.  I just
did my spring tune up (first one with this van) and low and behold, I found
two nicely split vacuum lines on either side of the auxillary air regulator
under the air filter housing!  After tons of time trying to figure out the
crazy idle...there it was.  I finished my tune up, timed 'er up to 5 BTDC
(not 5 ATDC)....and wow....I hadn't heard this van run like that.  I was very
happy.  And then....( why always a "and then..."??? :-)

I went out the next day....very hard start...then she started.  Held idle ok,
better in park than at stop in drive....wanted to die coming to a stop, then
didn't.  Engine is warm now.  Taking off from stops nicely tho,...I'm
noticing increased quality with 5 BTDC, but this damn idle thing!  So, I keep
on going...get to park...take dog out...shut van off (just a few minutes),
get back in.....drives better....get home...idles ok in drive in the
driveway, and Iput it into park....idling better than earlier, but I still
have some mild fluctuation and slight dying when coming to a stop.  Not too
too bad.  I rechecked my timing (when I could get a nice 850-900 rpm without
fluctuation...and all was well.  SO weird.  The idle gremlin is random....I
can't nail it down to run nice and smooth as it should.  Info I don't know:
if anyone messed with the factory set throttle valve screw...I doubt
it...looks unmessed with.

Something else important that i wanted to mention is that I THOUGHT I was
supposed to hear two 'clicks' when advancing the throttle body when the van
is off....you know, so you can set the throttle valve switch with a feeler
gauge to proper gap...well...sometimes I can hear the clicks...sometimes it
won't click at all.  Messing with it...then it might click a few times...then
no.  I adjust the switch...then it'll click again...then won't.  This may be
my problem with consistent idle maybe???

Ive' replaced the idle stablilizer, the o2 sensor, the exhaust from the
header connection on through the tailpipe.....

My radiator fan also isn't working....relay ok...switch is 5 months
old....temp sensor in pressure tank ok....fan was working fine this
winter....seemed to go at same time I'm having trouble with front heater
blower.

Any ideas?  Can I beat the idle Gremlin forever?  (damn I wanna beat him too).
Sorry so long...

Thanks y'all
Dustin
'85 Vanagon Passenger w/sunroof - "Chuba"