Date:         Thu, 8 Jul 2004 12:50:15 -0400
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: New owner issues - '85 Vanagon
Comments: To: Larry Edson <sonofed@KARMANNGHIA.ORG>
In-Reply-To:  <Pine.WNT.4.58.0407080838500.564@PHX-73C5P31.chw.edu>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed

At 08:59 AM 7/8/2004 -0700, Larry Edson wrote:

>First off, the guage cluster appears to have a grounding problem. Some
>days I'll turn the key and the tach/lights/gauges work just fine. Next
>time I get in - nothing. Is this a common problem? I figure cleaning the
>electrical contacts for the cluster will be the first step but if anyone
>has had to do anything further to permanently fix this problem please let
>me know.

Try wiggling the ignition key first. I haven't experienced it myself, but
I've heard lots of reports of these going bad over the years (some say it
is a function of how heavy a keychain hangs from it over the years :-). If
this switch seems to be OK, cleaning contacts may be a good option. I
recently cleaned the two ground clusters on the sidewall behind the fuse
box... didn't fix the problem I was chasing, but my wipers and washers are
now both much livelier.


>Second, when the engine is warm it most always idles at 1800 rpm. I've
>seen comments on the Type2 list about something called a decel valve but
>have no idea where to look for this or even if this is really the problem.
>I'm hesitant to fork out the money for a part that I have no idea what it
>looks like or where to look for it in the engine bay.

This may have any number of causes *but* it sounds exactly like a problem I
have with my '85... I diagnosed it to the throttle switch, either the
switch or the linkage is too gunky and sticky to allow the switch to drop
back into "idle" mode when I let off the accelerator.

There's a procedure in the Bentley for checking/adjusting this switch (look
for the '85-only procedure... this year differs from all the others).

A quick test may be to go to the engine bay and push the throttle linkage
"all the way off" by hand. If the linkage/switch is just sticky, this may
force it to idle properly... if it is too far out of adjustment, or the
switch is bad, this won't have any effect. If you are *really* lucky, the
problem will be here, and some carb-cleaner on the linkage will solve it.

Best of luck with your new ride!

Tim