Date:         Mon, 6 Sep 2010 13:14:39 -0700
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Engine hunting - Temp sensor suspected
Comments: To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=response

hi John...
my asnwer to your last question is 'no.'

In my opion uneven or inconsistent idle is not likely to be cause by a
faulty Temp Sensor II ..
and ...usually contact to those is good , but consider that, and one of the
two wires to it has to go to a ground I think and grounds are always suspect
on 24+ year old VW's.
 - however, I would not invest an hour there checking that all out, not yet
anyway.

also, I suggest people avoid the mentality of 'it's a component'.
I could/should track this ...but upwards of 60 % of the time I fix a vanagon
for something like this, it is not 'a componene't.
 it's something that needs cleaning, adjsuting, lubing etc.

here is what I do find *very often, if not 'all the darn time'...
Idle Switch not making contact and too advanced timing.

need to check for air leaks too.  'mostly' they're pretty good about that. ,
but on one vanagon I found about 7 tiny air leaks in the whole throttle
body/plenum/intake runner area.

throw parts at it if you want, but that's a 'whatever' way to troubleshoot -
i.e. ineffective and costly.

many 2.1 throttle body switches are corroded and won't adjust properly, that
I find anyway.
and eventually the throttle body itself gets worn too much, though so far I
haven't had to pop for a rebuilt one, I can always get them to idle just
fine, pretty much.

consider your electronic idle control system too, Idle Control Vavle,
Control Unit, and wiring to/from them.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, September 06, 2010 11:09 AM
Subject: Engine hunting - Temp sensor suspected


>  As reported in an earlier post, the engine on my Carat "hunts" over a
> range from 1000 to 1500 rpm and back. Temp sensor suspected. How can I
> test this sensor, or is this one of those things at which to just throw
> money at new parts and hope you got it right.
>
> Thanks,
>
> John
>
> --
> John Rodgers
> Clayartist and Moldmaker
> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
> Chelsea, AL
> Http://www.moldhaus.com