Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2005 12:54:02 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Stalling at stop lights
In-Reply-To: <AMELJGEEOOKBMMBAGJEPIENMDAAA.martine.boud@videotron.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
When the lights are turned on, the added load on the alternator will
require more torwue from the engine for the alternator to keep up. The
idle stabilizer will kick up the rpm to handle the load. Of the idle
stabilizer is not doing it's job, the engine will actually lose rpm
under the load. So, check the idle stabilizer operation.
The same is true for the powere steering. The power steering pump is
wired to the idle stabilizer system, and when the load is increased on
the power steering pump and system, the idles stabilizer system will
again kick up the rpm to compensate for the added load. Again, check the
idle stabilizer system for proper oiperation.
The operation of the Air Conditioning system will also have the same
effect on the engine. A typical AC system requires approx. 5 horsepower
to drive it. That is quite a bit, especially on an engine as small our
1.9L or 2.1L WBX. Even if just the AC fan is turned on, the system is
wired to the idle stabilizer system so as to compensate for the load the
AC puts on the engine, and the idle stabilizer system will kick the rpm
up. In the case of the air conditioning system being turned on - fan or
otherwise - the engine rpm should increase to 1500 rpm as long as the
AC is in operation.
So, it can be seen that having the Idle Stabilizer System in good
operating order is very important to trouble free Vanagon operation.
On the Vanagon, maintenance and service are the name of the game. My
experience has been - and I have had two Vanagons - keep the machine
properly serviced and maintained, and it will give virtually trouble
free service, and it will nearly always give advanced warning that
something is not right. Rarely ever has my van parked me somewhere
inconvenient before letting me know well in advance that something was
going to happen if I didn' take care of matters. That's pretty good,
given that even the newest of Vanagons is now 14 years old.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Martine Boudreault wrote:
>I have similar problems with my 1989 Westy and also after installing new
>heads! Let me know if you find the solution. My problem is more
>intermittent, but it mostly happen with the warm engine. I also notice
>that the RPM goes down when I turn the light on while on park or while
>turning the steering wheel.
>
>Joel
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf Of
>John Schaper
>Sent: 25-Apr-05 11:14
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Stalling at stop lights
>
>84 1.9L westphalia, manual transmission. Relatively (less than 5K miles)
>new valves and heads. Its been running great with an idle RPM of around
>1,000. But over the weekend, while stopped at stop lights, over the course
>of 20-30 seconds, the rpm's decline, engine runs rough, engine dies. Vacuum
>lines new and connected. What else might I look for?
>
>John Schaper
>Assistant Director Ancillary Services
>Health Services Agency
>P.O. Box 3271
>Modesto, CA 95353
>209.558.7102
>209.558.8320 (fax)
>jschaper@schsa.org
>
>
>
>
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