Date:         Fri, 2 Mar 2007 01:14:41 -0500
Reply-To:     "Daniel L. Katz" <katzd54@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Daniel L. Katz" <katzd54@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Common problem, I think

mordo:

many good suggestions already, but first: check all 4 plugs, cap and
rotor, wires (could look for sparks or blue glow in the dark), fuel
filter, and for vacuum leaks.

also, not impossible that fuel system cleaner resulted in fouled plugs,
such as a small piece of carbon bridging electrode gap(s).

dan

On Thu, 1 Mar 2007 17:33:49 -0500, mordo <helmut.blong@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

>So, the trusty, uncomplaining engine that I feel grateful to have had for
8k
>miles has suddenly developed a condition that I know has been described
and
>discussed ad nauseam here, I think. I would call it Vanagon syndrome but
it
>isn't really. Also, I have the OEM harness that is meant to cure
>"drivability issues." I have searched the archives, "the whole shebang" on
>the BDTD site and also a cursory search through the Samba. I am left not
>knowing exactly what's happening.
>
>2.1l water cooled, automatic, 160k miles
>
>engine starts as normal but whether cold or warm, when one accelerates and
>runs the RPM up to about 2500, it will go flat - loss of power. If I let
of
>the throttle, it will drop to a low, erratic idle of about 800 RPM. I can
>feather the revs til it smooths out at about 1700 rpm but it will not
return
>to idle.This is, of course, sporadic but it has not disappeared long
enough
>to travel any great distance - maybe two blocks at a time without failing.
>
>Perhaps recall that I had written about this engine and that when I come
to
>a stop, in gear, the idle holds high at about 1100 rpm. Tapping the pedal
>will let it drop to a consistent idle of about 950-1000 rpm.
>
>So, I'm thinking AFM or TPS mostly because of the high idle condition when
>the engine was operating well. But, does the TPS usually cause the loss of
>power (basically going flat) at higher RPMs?
>
>The engine was running perfectly on Sunday for a 160 mile jaunt back from
>the Northern Neck of Virginia. This condition appeared Wednesday morning
as
>wife tried to go to work in the van. I reckon I should check the
following,
>in this order:
>
>
>   1. disconnect oygen sensor
>   2. disconnect idle stabilizer valve
>   3. connections at injectors
>   4. loose grounds
>   5. TPS
>   6. AFM track and wiper
>
>Can anyone suggest a more direct troubleshooting path? Am I confusing
>symptoms by imagining the condition akin to the "syndrome"?
>Cheers,
>--
>mordo
>1990 Carat