Date: Thu, 16 Oct 1997 07:46:20 -0700
Reply-To: Ed McLean <mcleans@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon mailing list <Vanagon@Gerry.SDSC.EDU>
From: Ed McLean <mcleans@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Idle Stabilizer FIXED!!!, Thanks to Jim Davis
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On 10/13/97 I posted a note ("Idle Stabilizer fix?") requesting information
on the sudden racing idle problem. I received several replies and
suggestions but the most helpful was from Jim Davis who refered to his
earler note to the vanagon list and suggested I might have a defective
voltage stabilizer in my idle stabilizer control module. That was exactly
the problem. I replaced the voltage stabilizer ($2.75) and my regulated
idle returned. I also have a second component in the idle stabilizer that
is somewhat scorched but I couldn't identify it and it didn't look too bad
so I left it alone. I hope this unknown component is not the reason for
the blown voltage stabilizer. If it fails again, I will certainly let the
Vanagon list know. I am including part of Jim's note to me because it
describes the situation precisely.
Thanks Jim,
Ed McLean
'86 Westi
North Carolina
This is part of Jim's note to me:
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It might be your idle stabilizer control module. A while back I wrote the
following:
========================================================
Recently I related the story of my 87 Syncro suddenly developing a +4,400 RPM
idle. I traced this to the Idle Control Module located forward of the
right/rear taillight. The dealer said list was $208. I called several
wreckers and was quoted from $80 to $20 for this item. I bought the $20 one
and it arrived yesterday.
Meanwhile I was pursuing repairing the bad module. Inside the module I
discovered two components that were suspect. The first one, a voltage
stabilizer transistor was definitely fried. I found (from my 88 Vanagon
module) a company logo: SGS in tall narrow letters pushed up against
eachother & other numbers were BD 438 and 9 741. I found that an ECG or NTE
185 was a replacement component for it. The other component was a rectifier
diode that had some signs of being overheated but was not overtly fried as
the other component had been. The diode had the numbers GP15G-7001 and GI
8641. I thingk the GI is for General Instruments. Well, found that it
could be replaced with an NTE 125 or ECG 125.
Yesterday, I installed the two new components and the bottom line is that
after poping the module back in, my van idles normally again! :)
Cost?
NTE185: $2.25
NTE125: $.88
Total: $3.13 + tax
Compared to dealer list, I saved about $205. - that's 98.5% less!! :) :)
:)
So now I've gone from needing a new module to having a spare for future use.
:)
Jim Davis
87 GL Syncro
88 GL Wolfsburg
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