Date:         Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:24:51 -0800
Reply-To:     Michael Hart <mjhart853@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Hart <mjhart853@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Low Idle/Stalling when cold
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I previously posted (Nov '08) about rough idle and stalling problems on my '87 Westy (stock 2.1L engine). and got lots of good advice (Thanks to BenT, Mike Miller, Chris S. etc.). Based on that & the excellent article on Van-cafe's website, I changed many items - service items (plugs, plug wires, distributor cap & rotor, air filter, fuel filter); O2 sensor replaced; fuel pump replaced (and there was no fuel restriction at the tank); swopped out ECU, idle computer (no effect)

Since then I've driven the van for 2000 miles without any repetition of the original problem (engine stalled out when hot, ran extremely rough and stalled out after ~1 minute when re-started from hot or cold, would not go more than 100 yards).

After that things have been much better, but still not quite right. On cold mornings (relative at least, it does go down to 30F in the 'depths of winter' here in N. CA), the engine runs very low rpm and stalls out in idle (need to keep your foot on the gas). This only lasts for a minute or so, the engine seems to warm up very quickly to normal idle. Other than that, mpg is lower than I've been used to (now ~18mpg vs. ~20mpg before). No noticeable loss of power, the van cruises fine as before.

Any ideas on next steps (I haven't changed the idle control valve yet; disconnecting it prevented the engine from starting at all)

Thanks,
Mike
'87 Westy (2.1L)
Palo Alto, CA