Hi all:

For the last few days my '84 1.9 has been cutting out momentarily. Not the
usual vanagon highway bucking, but rather just an occasional blip during
city driving. The last couple of days, however, these blips have graduated
to full stalls. The van won't restart until I switch the ignition off, then
turn it back on. The strange thing is after the stall I can hear the fuel
pump humming. This continues until I turn the ignition off. Today I let it
run for a good 30 seconds. I switched the ignition off, and back on. The
pump ran for a second, then stopped, like it does on a first morning start.
The van then started right up.

What could be happening? How could the fuel pump run that long without the
engine running? Pressure shuts it off, correct? Is it somehow losing
pressure while running? Why would that happen if the fuel pump is running?
How could the pump run after the stall and not build up pressure and shut
off? Why would turning the ignition on and off enable it to build pressure?

If it makes any difference I replaced the fuel pressure regulator about a
month ago.

Sorry about all the questions, but I'm stymied by this one.

TIA,
John