Vanagon (Digifant) Air Flow Meter (AFM) Adjustment Procedure

[blackglasspirate]

So, I'm trying this procedure again while on the road because of a bad idle but am running into an issue. Whenever I unplug the ICV the engine dies immediately. If I unplug it before starting the engine, it won't start at all.

Any ideas why that would happen?

With it still connected I am getting around .5-.6v, but I'm guessing that's a somewhat false reading if the ICV is still connected.

Thanks!
_________________
'87 Vanagon GL Westfalia
IG: @holidayatsee
FB: https://www.facebook.com/holidayatsee

[jberger]

[rocinante dapple]

Can this procedure be adapted to an air cooled (1980) vanagon? As far as I understand I don't have an 02 sensor to read the voltage from when adjusting the meter.

My AFM is causing a rough idle, but stabilizes, with varying hesitation from idle, when the throttle is engaged. The thing I noticed when I pulled off my plastic cap was at idle, the meter is jumping all over the place, but with the throttle engaged it is more or less stable. And, just out of curiosity, I briefly manually held the arm in place to keep the air meter stable and it improves the stability, go figure, of the idle dramatically.

I have cleaned my points, although I haven't checked my continuity between all the points in the system though. I have a new temp 2 sensor, I have replaced the double relay for the fuel pump, but eventually found that the original one did better after I cleaned it up.

[pathao]

[jerryherb]

[jerryherb]

can someone actually provide some base settings from an unadulterated AFM (force/weight to open a flap, voltage at idle, # of turns of the CO screw, etc)? there is not need to open the AFM for this. variables from a NOS would be nice, but i guess refurbs "should" be up to factory spec, whatever that means, and not based on individual engine's behavior. my original AFM has a 013 mark on the spring so that is what i would be most interested in seeing (late 85 1.9 digijet system).

[korfmach]

OK, maybe I'm missing something here...but I don't think I have an idle mixture screw on my AFM. Bentley says to drill out a cap, but I drilled about 5mm down into the place where it's supposed to be and it just looks like solid aluminum. Engine is stock MV 2.1, 1989.
_________________
1989 Westy
2016 Golf TSI

Gone, but not forgotten:
1974 Dorper Baywindow, "The Bleeding Trout"
1998 Jetta TDI, "Trixie"
1987 GTI, "Heike"
1974 Thing, "The Luftwaffel"
1974 Ghia
1966 Ghia

[DanHoug]

the hex mixture screw is under that plug. you need to screw a sheet rock screw or something into the plug and pull it out with a pliers. congrats on having a non-tampered AFM!
_________________
-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.

'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd

Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com

[korfmach]

[Cathrich]

Hi all, I have been reading through this post with great interest, so much information!
I have collected a few AFM's, all appear to work fine with a drive test on my '89 2.1 MV.
I have yet to measure each in detail to check what I have and make sure they are all good, but most seem untampered with and in good condition.

What I have noticed though is a big variation on the spring tension between them all.
I need to re-read these posts to understand the operation better, but am surprised the ones I have are all OK in a drive test given the spring tension is so different.
I have put each in the van for a week to test, but have not compared fuel economy with each.

I don't have any issues with the van, but while it's running well I'm collecting spares and testing them all.

Richard

[bobbyblack]

Cathrich,

There was another topic that discussed relaxing the spring 3 clicks. This might account for the less taught spring you are finding. This was, in effect, supposed to create Full Enrichment more quickly than 40 seconds at WOT.

I have no dog in that game as of yet.
_________________
'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[81aircoolcalifinCanada]

Hi! Will this procedure (on page one) work on a '81 Aircool Calif? Or only on later models? Thanks!

[E J Egg]

In Australia remanufactured 86 -92 AFM's available from Injectronics
https://injectronics.com.au/register-a-repair/details/air-mass-flow-meter/287