TheSamba.com :: View topic - Van starts, but sometimes dies while idling

Fri Mar 01, 2024 9:53 am

I recently took my van into the shop and they could not find out why my van would die during idle or while backing out of the garage sometimes, but after it gets on the road (into second or third gear) it runs fine for the entire day. They adjusted the air intake and it seems to be doing better for a few weeks, but it just did the same thing yesterday. One note, when I turn the vehicle on while idling I do not give it gas, I just let it idle in its natural state. Yesterday when it died on idle, I turned the car off then started it up again and I held down the gas pedal all the way, and it was idling, it was unresponsive to my foot being all the way on the gas and sounded like it was going to die, and then all of a sudden it rev'ed up really high and was roaring. It felt like it was not getting gas and then all of a sudden gas was pushed through. I am not sure if that is what happened, but that is what the experience felt like. I hope this description makes sense.

In closing after this event yesterday I was able to drive the van home with no issue. I am trying to figure out why the van is dying on idle sometimes. I really appreciate this forum and the folks here. Everyone is extremely helpful! Thanks!

Fri Mar 01, 2024 10:32 am

Year of the van? - Type/brand of engine? - Type of transmission?

Fri Mar 01, 2024 11:08 am

1984 vanagon westfalia 2.3l engine manual transmission

Fri Mar 01, 2024 1:41 pm

When the fuel/air ratio is wrong the van has the problem similar to your description. It could be bad injectors (too much fuel) or air leak somewhere at the elbow after the AFM or air leak at the seal behind the throttle body (too much air). This is just a guess.

Here are things to check if not done yet...
- Fuel pressure regulator
- Large rubber elbow after the AFM, check clamps too
- Throttle body seal
- Throttle body switch
- Injector connectors

Fri Mar 01, 2024 7:35 pm

If still using the ‘84 Digijet system, I’d first bypass the idle stabilizer.

Edit: green, gray, or black box screwed into driver’s side engine surround, tricky to get plugs out, be careful, unplug from box and plug wires together… one sign of failure is no-starts, another is it stalls while driving just like you turned the key off. The van is perfectly safe to run without the stabilizer, it’ll just surge at idle sometimes and especially when full-hot.

If it idles “fluttery,” I’d first suspect a clogged injector.

If it idles and has fast and brief misses, first guess is electrical.

If it idles and seems intermittently short of fuel, first guess is vacuum leak.