Date:         Mon, 5 Jun 2006 19:19:53 -0400
Reply-To:     Carl Kralik <cek347@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Carl Kralik <cek347@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Digijet Idle problem
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2006060500041638@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

While on the topic of idle, I recently took my new Van on its first trip, a
bit over an hour to the beach in NJ.  Drove, and ran great on the way down
and back.   About 5 miles from home I noticed that the idle would hold at
around 2000 rpm's compared to what I observed as normal to that point (~900
RPM) upon pulling up to redlights.  Should i be worried? Anything to look
into?

On 6/5/06, Benny boy <huotb@videotron.ca> wrote:
>
> Ken, this is a common problem on Digijet, it's a mix of 3 thing:
> -Bad timing (or /and worn distributor!!!), check that mark on the
> distributor (TDC#1) and align this one with the lower screw (the one to
> loose the distributor for timing) rear end of this one(check bentley) and
> forget the timing light (that is why the Vanagon distributor drive gear
> SHOULD always be where she should be!!! position on crankshaft)
> -Bad or worn throttle body, if this one is worned bad, forget stable idle
> -Worn AFM... won't help anything, believe me...
>
> Most of the time timing is just slightly off (to much advance most of the
> time). But, if the idle srew (the big one on the throttle body) is way out
> (counterclockwise), you have to much retard and the screw is out to
> compensate a slow runing engine (to be sure, acceleration is sluggish),
> turn
> this one IN.
>
> So begin by aligned the distributor at #1 TDC, play with this one just a
> bit, each way, you will need to go a clockwise as possible until the
> engine
> acceleration get "sluggish", go back a bit (here goes my English), now,
> get
> a good acceleration, now play with that throttle screw, screw this one in
> as
> far as you can, all close if needed... how is it now?
>
> 90% of the time, this does the trick!
>
> If that dosn't do it, swap AFM... and/or swap throttle body.
>
> Let me know!
> Ben
> http://www.benplace.com/
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> I have an 83.5 1.9l digijet Vanagon that I am having a problem with the
> idle. First of all I never heard the van run. It came here after the owner
> had blown up the last motor. I got a good used motor that was a low
> mileage
> rebuild and put it in. It runs excellent, no smoke, and the only issue I
> have with it is that when it is in Park (it is an automatic) the idle will
> go up and hold or go up and down (oscillating). I have replaced all of the
> vacuum lines on the engine, the idle control unit (it does the surging
> when
> the ICU is bypassed), checked for vacuum leaks until I am sick of
> checking,
> and I can't find the problem. The throttle postion switch works and seems
> to
> be adjusted properly. The customer swears up and down that the van ran
> perfectly smooth at idle before we put the new engine in (as I said I
> never
> heard it run so I don't know for sure). It has all new cap, rotor, plugs,
> and wires. I checked the vacuum advance and retard and they aren't
> leaking.
> I checked the fuel pressure and it is within spec. Does anyone have any
> other ideas that I can look at? My next check is valve adjustment. I
> haven't
> adjusted them since the engine was supposedly running excellent before it
> was pulled (again I didn't hear it run myself, getting this from the
> seller). The van idles smoothly when it is in "Drive" or there is a load
> on
> the engine like when I turn on the A/C. But sitting idling in Park with no
> load is when it acts goofy. Any ideas or similar experience would be
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks, Ken Wilford John 3:16
>