Date:         Mon, 24 Mar 2003 16:13:17 -0500
Reply-To:     Marc Perdue <marcperdue@ADELPHIA.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Marc Perdue <marcperdue@ADELPHIA.NET>
Subject:      Re: hesitation from a stop and replacing afm
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Gary,

What year van is this?  I've had rather minor idle issues with my '87
Westy that appear related to the weather.  In the winter, it idles up and
down and sometimes winds up idling at 1200-1600 RPMs after a 20-30 minute
drive.  Now that it's warmed up, when I get in to drive home at the end of
the day, it hesitates badly when I first start out.  It doesn't stall, but
having no little or no power when you need it is very disconcerting to say
the least.

Here's what I've done to mine:  Replaced idle control unit, thoroughly
cleaned and tested the idle stabilizer valve, new air filter, plugs,
distributor cap, plug wires.  I have a new O2 sensor, but haven't replaced
it because the gasket in my exhaust pipe just before the O2 sensor leaks
and I thought this may be giving the sensor faulty readings.  Replacing
that pipe with a stainless one and replacing the gasket is next on the
list, then perhaps the O2 sensor.

Thanks for any words of wisdom,
Marc Perdue

gary hradek wrote:

> My van has always had a problem stalling from a start.
> I compensated by turning outward the big screw on the
> throttle body which raised the idle making it
> drivable.
> The downside was the idle would float between 1k to
> 2k.
> I replace all the easy stuff first.   plugs,wires cap
> and moved onto the airintake hoses thinking they had a
> leak.   I was always intimidated by the AirFlowMeter.
>  I bought one from ebay for $65.00 and held on to it
> for several years.   Having just replaced the head
> gasket I was pumped up enough to grab the bull by the
> horns and put in that AFM.
> Let me say this is a job anyone can do.   It is
> slightly harder than changing the air filter.   Take
> some care in removing the clip on the plug.  Use a
> small screw driver to pull outward from the bottom of
> the clip as you pull the clip up.
>    So the stalling is gone and the rpm sits at 900.
> Should have done it two years ago.  gary
>
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