Date:         Tue, 9 Jul 1996 07:53:31 -0700 (PDT)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Steven Johnson" <sjohnson@pcocd2.intel.com>
Subject:      Re: 90 Vanagon Engine Woes

So PMaille@aol.com says:
> Seeking advice......1990 Vanagon--has sat at dealership for over 20 billable
> hours; Master certified VW mechanic "can not get to run any better".
>   Problem:  when first starts, stalls several times.  Once running, engine
> always stutters and sputs at idle while tach drifts up and down by several
> hundred revs.  Gets really bad with a.c. on (Which is a lot in Phoenix in the
> summer time).  HELP!!!!!!!!!  hope we are not damaging our motor--have
> already gone through 3 motors in the 71' campmobile this year and am out of
> repair cash!!!

Sounds like our friendly coolant temp. sensor or the idle stablizer valve 
problem that rears its ugly head from time to time.  I would get those
two components checked out and the connections in between.  Make sure
your grounds (battery especially) are good solid connections.

Steven 
Sacramento, CA
sjohnson@pcocd2.intel.com