Date:         Fri, 5 Oct 2012 18:44:47 -0400
Reply-To:     Marc Perdue <mcperdue@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Marc Perdue <mcperdue@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Darn idle, stalling, running rich...
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I think I'm with everybody on the list in terms of having been chasing idle
issues from day one with my van. I just found the excellent post on BTDT
and am going to go through that process on my van this weekend.

Here's what's up: I've an '87 Westy, auto, that I originally replaced the
tranny in due to PO putting gear oil in it. I've had this particular
problem since I've owned the van (2003 maybe?). I start the van in the
morning. It usually dies a few times before I can get it moving and then
once or twice more before it warms up. It's usually running okay by the
time I get to work, three miles away. In the evening, when I get off work,
it runs rough as a cob and will only smooth out if I can get the revs up
above 2500. Above that, it runs fine. Problem is, most of the streets
nearest work have a 25 mph or lower speed limit, so the revs don't get that
high. Once I get a mile or so from work, it seems to run better, though
still lacking in power until I get on the bypass (55 mph speed limit).

Now, here are the things that I've done over the years, and any one of
these could be a problem yet again I suppose, save for the idle control
valve:
Cleaned all grounds, per y'all's recommendations
Replace Temp II sensor
Replace O2 sensor, several times
Replace exhaust, several times
Replace engine with Boston Bob (I miss him) big valve engine after throwing
a rod through the crankcase
Replace idle stabilizer module (NOT new)
Replace ECU (NOT new)
Cleaned idle control valve many times and just replaced it with a brand new
one
Checked and adjusted throttle switch
Replaced AFM (NOT new)
Replaced throttle body boot
Replaced distributor cap, rotor, spark plugs and wires
Checked timing somewhere along the way

Incidentally, my van was running its best when I took it to a shop and
insisted that they adjust the valves to zero lash cold, per Bob Donalds.
I've since had the same done by Keith (last name escaping me) in Staunton,
VA, and it's usually run quite well after that, getting up to 18 mpg and
gobs of power (relatively speaking, of course). But I haven't done the work
commute after that to test this particular idle problem.

As I said, I'm going to clean all the grounds again per the BTDT post, but
do you all have any other ideas? This is darn frustrating.

Thanks much! And it's good to "see" many familiar faces are still here.
Marc Perdue