Date: Sat, 18 Jul 1998 02:30:56 EDT
Reply-To: SyncroHead@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: SyncroHead@AOL.COM
Subject: Re: Idle stabilizer control unit
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
In a message dated 98-07-17 22:45:59 EDT, Spitzwagen@AOL.COM writes:
>I have an '86 Westy 2.1 Liter water cooled digifant that developed the
>dreaded high idle condition. The van would do 50 MPH foot off the
accelerator.
<snip>
>I then decided to open up the unit.
>After some VERY CAREFUL prying I got it open and observed that one
>component of the circuit board had been subjected to heat(brown area around
>solder connections and the black paint or whatever had peeled off the
component
>itself revealing a silver metal looking area underneath.) This is a small
>black rectangular component mounted vertically on the board.
<snip>
> I have read in the archives that somebody may know how to test and replace
> individual components of the idle stabilizer. I wanna try some VW brain
> surgery.
<snip>
Try this:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
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
