Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2011 14:11:31 -0800
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: Serious Friday question -- stalling a few minutes after cold
start
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="utf-8"; reply-type=original
As I like to say ..
don't think 'part' ..
think adjustments and cleaning things .
The Aux Air Regulator doesn't seem to have a lot of affect on 1.9 wbxr
engines ..
it 'should' make a faster cold idle...
you might think about yours and check it's operation ..
but what I find ALMOST ALL THE TIME ..
are idle switches not making contact.
your 85 could have either of two styles..
the early with the two switches on top in plane view.
or the later style with the switch on the bottom.
I am in the process right now of elongating the 'eccentric hole' in the
switch plate on an 85 vanagon throttle body ...
I can't say enough how important it is that the idle switch make contact at
idle ..
I guessimate that upwards of half, at least, of all running vanagons have
idle swiches not making contact.
( there is an electro-pnuematic version avaiable btw to replace the
mechanical switch on the throttle body. )
and timing ..
I find 'most' vanagons with timing too advanced.
Too adanced timing is not better !!
heck..I'll even say this...
always thinking 'what part might be the problem' ..
is for people who don't understand how waterboxer EFI and Electronic
Igntiion system work ..
or how to test them throughly ..
So that leaves them with only 'part' to consider..
upwards of 75 % of the time ..
it is not 'a part' ..it is an adjusment, or something clogged or dirty or
corroded.
when everything is in spec, and adjusted properly ..
they work just like they did new.
They start perfectly, they idle well, the go well, and they deliver decent
fuel economy.
I would not expect a 1.9 to have very good 'fast cold idle' though , but I
do get them to not stall cold, and idle right whether cold or warm.
( I could even retrofit a 2.1 electroically controlled idle air valve and
control unit to a 1.9 .... ..but those are expensive parts ...so not so hot
there..
and in reverse of that ..I might even try a 1.9 Auxiliary Air Regulator on a
2.1 wbxer )
and for *all cars* ..particularily gasoline ones..
I very very strongly recommend, don't start it up cold and let it sit
idling. Very wastefuil of fuel, and shortens engine life.
and always always check for air leaks ..
everywhere ..in all the parts that flow air in any way.
'it's all about the air' ....much of the engine managment is based on air
flow ..
and a complete lack of any air leaks anywhere. So always check for those
very thoroughly.
scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Lauterbach" <jhlauterbach@BELLSOUTH.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2011 5:58 AM
Subject: Serious Friday question -- stalling a few minutes after cold start
> My '84 Vanagon wants to stall after driving for several minutes. It
> will start okay, but not fast idle. If you have to stop at a traffic
> light after driving for several minutes, something is driving the idle
> to zero unless you press down on the accelerator pedal to keep the idle
> up. Once the engine is fully warmed up, idle is stable. Also, if you
> start van after it has been shut off for a half-hour or so (temp gauge
> about 1/4 scale), engine will not idle without using accelerator pedal
> to keep it going.
>
> Problem occurs with both my regular and spare ECU. Digital idle
> stabilizer, ignition control module, T1-sensor, and O2-sensor were new
> in 2003 when I installed long block. I recently installed new rotor and
> cap. Inside of cap at carbon spots 180-degrees apart near electrodes.
>
> John
>
>
>
> .
