Date:         Tue, 4 Nov 2003 11:26:00 -0500
Reply-To:     Tim Demarest <tim.demarest@POBOX.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tim Demarest <tim.demarest@POBOX.COM>
Subject:      Re: Fast Idle?
Comments: To: Jay L Snyder <Jay.L.Snyder@INVISTA.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <OF663ED8B8.F6BB031B-ON85256DD4.004C8D2C@lvs.dupont.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

>Someone mentioned about having an 1800 rpm fast idle in cold weather.  I
>have never seen a fast idle on either of my Vanagons--one was a 2.1 and my
>current 1.9--other than an  extra  hundred rpms for a few seconds.  Doesn't
>the idle control rein in the idle speed at all times?

This may be a broken, mis-adjusted or gunked-up idle switch. If the switch
doesn't close when the throttle closes, the ECU doesn't know the van is
idling (causing high idle).

Alternatively, if the switch doesn't open the instant the throttle begins
to open, the ECU thinks the van is still idling while the driver thinks it
should be accelerating... leading to serious hesitation or stalling.

There are two adjustment procedures in the Bentley manual that apply to
this. See "Throttle valve, basic adjustment", and "Throttle Valve Switch,
checking and adjusting".

My '85 has a broken or gunked-up idle switch, which will not meet the
Bentley specs, so I had to choose between the hesitation and high idle... I
chose the high idle, because it lets me get away from stoplights without
getting rear-ended. The intake system rebuild is two projects down my list,
right after removing the camper guts to get at the rust under the utility
inlets...

Tim