Date:         Tue, 10 Dec 1996 06:42:40 -0800 (PST)
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Beth Young <young@sherlock.sims.berkeley.edu>
Subject:      Re: Ignition timing adjustment.

On Tue, 10 Dec 1996, Scott Maurer wrote:
> 
> Also, after reconnecting the idle stabilizer, I tried to test it by putting
> the automatic transmission in drive and reverse, but did not see any timing
> advance.  
> Does this indicate the idle stabilizer is bad? 

As I read Bentley, yes, the stabilizer is bad.

> Bentley describes a load test by engaging 4th gear, but no procedure for
> automatic transmissions.
> 

You're right.  But Bentley's "Idle stabilezer, checking" section for air-
cooled vans reads exactly the same as the test for water-cooled vans for
vehicles with manual transmissions, and then has another test for vans
with automatic transmissions, which is:
    
          -apply foot brake
          -warm up engine until idle is less than 1,000
          -swich on all electirical equipment, including a/c
          -let engine idle and notice timing
          -place selector in a speed range
          -as engine drops below 940 rpm, timing must advance.

I can't imagine procedure is different for water-cooled vans.



---------------------------------------------------------------------
Tom Young               young@sherlock.SIMS.Berkeley.EDU
Lafayette, CA  94549    '81 Vanagon
---------------------------------------------------------------------