Date:         Tue, 19 Apr 94 7:46:36 PDT
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Johnson <sjohnson@pcocd2.intel.com>
Subject:      Vanagon idle hunting --FIX

> > On Tue, 12 Apr 94 09:04:25 CDT Richard Eager said:
> > >Jim & Dean, I'm also very interrested in everyone's responses as I have a 1987
> > >that exhibits a similar behavior (I think).  That is, when idling, the
> > >RPMs will increase to about 2000 momentarily and then return to proper
> > >idle speed.  Really weird the first time this happened while driving ...
> > >I also have another problem that may or may not be related.  When I
> > >first start the car in the morning, the idle is very rough and slow
> > >(about 500 or so).  Sometimes the engine will stall, so I press the
> > >accelerator slightly to keep the speed up. After a minute or two of
> > >running, it's OK.  If it stalls though, it is very hard to restart and
> > >sometimes there is the faint smell of gas.  Is it possible for it to be
> > >choked too much ??!!
> > 
> 
> One other problem I didn't mention is that the car seemed sluggish and
> hesitant after warm up.  Cold temperature performance was just fine.
> 
> Joel wrote the following in response:
> 
> > Now THAT's the behavior of a bad temp coolant sensor! and if you drive off,
> > it will stall/die at stop signs and red lights. 
> 
> Today I'm THRILLED to report that I was able to replace the coolant temperature
> sensor and that ALL of the above symptoms disappeared.  Starts right up and runs
> right, no surging, no stalling and accelerates smoothly.  AND I got all this for
> the $11.32 the dealer charged me for the sensor (and a $1.68 for the new o-ring
> seal).
> 
I just wanted to mention that I had similar symptoms and looking at my invoice, it
says that it was from a sticking idle valve.  I have investigated as what the idle
valve is, but it doesn't sound like the same thing as the coolant sensor Joel was
speaking of.  And yet, I had the exact same symptoms that Richard had.  Matter of
fact, I thought Richard had been drivin' my car. ;)  .  So what do a think?

Steven

------------------ 
Steven Johnson
sjohnson@pcocd2.intel.com
'91 VW Camper GL, '86 Nissan Sentra
Previously owned: '68 bug, '70 squareback, '74 Camper