Date:         Wed, 23 Apr 2014 15:36:00 -0500
Reply-To:     Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Subject:      Re: '88 Vanagon poor idle when engine is first started
In-Reply-To:  <CAAt8q4ouE8SdsGoHb40TJL3yhNJ=aBHytM-ZNToy4zUaVbCtTQ@mail.gmail.com>
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On 4/23/2014 2:58 PM, John Graham wrote:
> I have an '88 Vanagon totally stock 2.1 engine that has served me well for
> the past 203,000 miles.  Most recent engine repair was to refurbish the
> heads about 10,000 miles ago and had been running fine since.
>
> My recent problem that started this winter is a poor idle condition when
> started first thing (i.e. engine is at ambient temp).  The engine starts
> fine, with idle a little over 1K and idles there for about 20 seconds and
> then want to die unless I give it some throttle.  If I let it die, it
> restarts just fine and runs for the 20 seconds and dies.
>
> I can drive off at this point without problems because the RPMs are up.  My
> first stoplight is about a half mile from my house and by the time I reach
> that point, the engine will idle - though a little roughly at about 900
> RPMs and by the time I've gone say another mile, it has pretty much settled
> down to a normal idle when stopped at a light.
>
> If I make a quick stop at a store after the engine is warmed up, it
> restarts with no startup idle issues.
>
> So - I suspect something related to a 'cold idle' system.  I've recently
> changed sparkplugs and airfilter and rotor and cap have less than 5000
> miles; Ignition wires are about a year old.
>
> I'm open to suggestion for what to try next.  I'm fairly handy and of
> course have a Bentley manual.
>
> John Graham
> 88 Westy - Charlotte, NC
>
> --
> <http://johntakesgreatpictures.com>
The cheap fix might be to replace your temp 2 sensor.  What you're
describing sounds pretty familiar.  IIRC, it's somewhere near the
thermostat housing.  The temp 1 is there too, but it just feeds the dash
gauge I think.  the gurus will chime in pretty son and either confirm or
deny whay I said....   there's als oa tricky throttle positioning switch
adjustment  on the front bumper side of the throttle body(a bit hard to
access).  Check Bentley for adj. procedures.

DM&FS