Date:         Sat, 7 Aug 1999 11:22:41 -0400
Reply-To:     Woody Halsey <WoodyHalsey@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Woody Halsey <WoodyHalsey@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Subject:      Woody's woes update
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Dear Friends,

I too am happy to have the list back ... even though it's absence freed up
some time to attend to other matters for a while!

Since last I wrote to describe my engine's annoying stumbling habits, I
have replaced the Temp2 sensor with the one from my parts car, put in an
entirely new exhaust (from BusDepot) system, complete with cat and
expensive O2 sensor, and replaced the fuel filter with a new one. I had
already switched AFM's with the one from the parts car. I have also checked
as many terminals and plugs as I can readily see from above the engine,
polished them w/ emory paper, and sprayed with the electronic cleaner from
NAPA recommended by various list members.

Results: I am getting  better gas mileage (just over 20 MPG now) ... but
still have the stumbling problem. The engine refuses to accelerate for
several seconds at very low speeds in second and then, usually but not
*always* after it's warmed up it catches and hiccups at 20MPH, 35MPH, and

50MPH. It runs fine at other speeds and even OK at 50MPH in third, but not
in fourth.

I have recently met a new mechanic, classic German guy with tons of
experience in Germany and here, specializing in  MB's and VW's. He says the
symptoms might be caused by faulty vacuum hoses (that's a new theory),
non-Bosch spark plugs (I'm embarrassed to say I don't know what's in there
now), or, most likely, the AFM. I guess the latter is still possible and
the only way to know for sure is try a "known good part," but it just seems
a little unlikely that I would have the exact same symptoms with two
different ones. Isn't it more likely that it is something else which hasn't
been replaced yet?

With sympathy for all you who have described similar difficulties and
thanks in advance for any further suggestions,

Woody