Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 07:48:15 -0800
Reply-To: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject: Re: Iow idle problem follow-up
In-Reply-To: <CAHTkEuLYcM1+wtwXx=4-Vsfg+BdZgSGhbi60uxS-DWfxvGXOZw@mail.gmail.com>
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Don, you're incorrigible :)
I think the screw adjustment you worked on was the throttle plate stop screw. The one that has a locknut and a dab of paint in it. If that's the case then the throttle plate is not completely closed when your foot is off the gas pedal.
Same result as having a brick on the gas pedal :)
I detect a dismissive note regarding measurement and adjustments in your message. I can sympathize about the difficulty in tracking down an intermittent fault, but I suggest you go over the tests again, maybe during some free time in the holidays.
Adjusting the throttle stop is only dealing with the symptoms and not the root cause. But then again, when all is said and done, if you are happy with that, what the heck does it matter?
Happy Xmas,
Alistair
> On Dec 24, 2014, at 7:01 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> 84 VANAGON manual trans inline motor/Digifant engine management.
>
> Recently I have had an issue with my idle sometimes being too low at
> unpredictable times letting the van die during traffic pauses, etc. I
> found a spare idle air control valve in my spares, but it is slightly
> different from the one I have now, so I douched the one that's here on the
> van, as well as Checking connections and vacuum leaks. All that and still
> low idle, but not consistently low, just sometimes.
>
> The Bentley book led me to a screw (imagine, something mechanical!).
> Similar to what was used on vehicles with carbs in the old days, this
> screw, with locknut, I turned it about 1/3 of a turn and that brought the
> idle back into spec. The van runs right again without the annoying dying
> at idle.
> I guess I'll be told now that I can't fix it that way...but I did first
> try all the fiddley little resistance readings and test protocols with no
> results first, just like s good little automotive technician should in our
> modern modular World.
>
> An aside: This last tank of fuel again gave me over 26 miles per gallon
> in rural driving. The Fuelly App I've recently began using to track my
> driving expenses has me at $.13/mile for the Vanagon, or 24.2 mpg over the
> past 6000 miles from my late fall's travels. I'll guess this kind of gas
> mileage surpasses most other much more expensive engine conversions, or
> even brand new Gucci G.W. style $5k rebuilt wbx motors.
