Date:         Fri, 18 Oct 2013 20:29:54 +0000
Reply-To:     Daniel O Stevens <dosteven@SYR.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Daniel O Stevens <dosteven@SYR.EDU>
Subject:      Re: What IS Vanagon Syndrome, exactly?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Don, I don't believe the Digifant I4s get Vanazgon syndrome.. 
But can get a very similar symptom if/when the O2 fails to read/adjust properly. 
And you get severe bucking.. in mine I unplugged the O2 and that set it into rich mode and no more bucking and no real driveability issues outside a slight increase in fuel consumption. 

So with a 1.8l I4 van that bucks try to disconnect the O2 wire before jumping to any conclusions. 
If it stops the symptom, then that's in need of replacement. 

Dan in NY



Date:    Fri, 18 Oct 2013 07:44:34 -0700
From:    Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: What IS Vanagon Syndrome, exactly?

   Like the subject says.   I just saw a few posts about a Digifant inline
VW powered vanagon traveling the southwest, like I soon will be doing
again...   He says he's having engine cutting-out problems and someone
suggested he is experiencing "Vanagon Syndrome"..  I've seen this mentioned often before, but it got my attention this time, since this fellow traveler
seems to be driving a similar Vangaon to mine.   I 'assumed' us inline
drivers were immune from Vanagon Syndrome...but that may not be the case?

   Anyhow, forewarned is forearmed...or something like that...and when I head out around Xmas time to travel the outback west I guess I should know what this condition might be and how to go about fixing it, should it ever happen to me in my 84 digifant II with a 93ABA block and 92 Jetta top end
VW inline motor.    Anyone care to outline what this condition is and how
to fix it when out on the road?

   I have never experienced any weirdness with my engine management, so far...(fingers and toes crossed) other than a hinky throttle position switch and of course the Temp II sensor..I travel with a lot of spares and wouldn't mind having something for the Vanagon Syndrome, should I ever encounter it with my rig.

  Thanks in advance,  Don Hanson