Date:         Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:14:38 EDT
Reply-To:     Dagbear@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rico Dagastino <Dagbear@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Idle problems
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Yesterday, I was backing out of the driveway in my 87 Vanagon and got to
the end of the driveway.  When I started to drive down the street the van
suddenly began to run died.  I was able to restart the van only by holding
the accelerator pedal to the floor and cranking for about 20 seconds.  The
van ran only about 400 rpm and had very little power.  I checked the usual
easy fixes.  The spark plugs were old and I replaced them, the distributor
cap, and the rotor.  I was able to restart the van but now the idle is  about
3500 rpm.

I checked:

    the temp II sensor, the resistance measurements  were at the
specifications at the temperature ranges specified in the Bentley  manual.  I checked
the temperature of the sensor with my nifty new VOM that  has a temperature
probe so I was sure of the temperature at which the  measurements were taken,

    the idle stabilizer control valve. I cleaned the  valve and get the
appropriate humming and opening and closing of the  valve,

    the fuel pressure (the pressure at was about 32  psi),

    I disconnected the oxygen sensor in order to reset  the ECU to the
default mode,

    I cleaned and tightened the grounds in the engine  compartment, at the
transmission and frame ground attachment,

    I set the timing with a timing light per Bentley  with the temp II
sensor disconnected and the idle stabilizer control valve  disconnected,

    I used some metaphorical language,

    I checked the vacuum and it was about 22 on the  vac. gauge at the 3000
rpm level,

    I cleaned the connections on the idle stabilizer  control unit as well
as soldering a joint that had a small crack in the where  one if the pins
from the plug attaches to the board,

    I used a little more metaphorical language.

The van still idles around 3500 rpm.  Any suggestions would be  appreciated.


Rico Dagastino
Memphis, TN