Date:         Mon, 8 Aug 2011 15:24:28 -0700
Reply-To:     Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steven Johnson <sjohnso2000@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Stranded Rock Springs, WY
In-Reply-To:  <1312840883.1220.YahooMailClassic@web160614.mail.bf1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Well, first of all, stop ingesting that crappy a$$ed coffee and start
drinking some water to calm yourself down...   :)


Okay, have you even lifted the lid off the engine compartment?   If you
haven't, I'd start out by checking things like
distributor cap connections, rotor, coil, spark plug wires and look for any
obvious loose connections.   Make sure
the spark plugs are screwed in tight as they should.   If you don't have any
tools you're at the mercy of the nearest
shop (hopefully they know something about vanagons?)    They'll probably do
a cursery check similar to above.
Be sure to check the large hose from the throttle body to the AFM.   This
one gave me similar trouble to what
you're describing.   Also, in the meantime be sure to indicate the year and
specs of your particular van.....

Good Luck!

Steven

On Mon, Aug 8, 2011 at 3:01 PM, David Vickery <david_vickery@yahoo.com>wrote:

> I was lucky to roll up and die across from a Starbucks.
>
> Anyone have thoughts on what this might be?  I just came back from 3,000
> mile trip.  Had a few times on highway what seemed like Vanagon syndrome,
> cutting out for just a second, then continuing on.  No issues when on roads
> that required constant change of throttle position.  Funny thing though, I
> have the AFM pigtail on.  So not sure if it could be vanagon syndrome.
>  Perhaps worn AFM.   But why a sudden problem.  It would run good if I
> varied the throttle, but if it stumbled on long flat stretches, it wouldn't
> immediately return to normal running.  It would bog a bit, or stall if I put
> the clutch in.  If I coasted for a while, it would usually just keep going.
>  Probably happened 10-15 times the whole trip, but always on long even
> grades.
>
> But when I got off the highway this last time in Rock Springs, it just died
> at the light.  I waited a while, drove another few miles to my current spot
> across from starbucks.
>
> I don't have any spare parts with me to try.  I bet it will run again for
> several miles if I let it cool off.  Not sure why that would matter though.
>  The first time, it died, it restarted but died while reving it (fuel
> issue?).  I didn't just fill up, and have been using 87, but did just come
> down from higher elevations to whatever Rocks Springs is. It is hot here.
>
> Anyone have any ideas, or know of a VW shop around here?
>