My '85 Vanagon has been idling rough for a few weeks now.  I found the problem being a bad spark plug wire (resistance was infinite).  I replaced the spark plug wire, and replaced the old worn-out Bosch spark plugs with new Bosch Platinum plugs.  It seemed to me the engine was idling a little rougher then if I would have just kept the older plugs in, but it might have been my imagination.  

I then adjusted the timing and took it out for a spin.  The problem I am having is there seems to be no power at the lower speeds and the Van is definitely getting hotter then normal when at an idle.

So I have two theories.  The first is I am doing something wrong with the timing.  The second is the spark plugs are problematic.

The timing on the van is really weird.  If I set it to the correct timing, the car idles poor and requires the use of the idle stabilizer.  If I adjust to more before TDC then recommended, the car idles much smoother and can maintain 850 RPM even without the use of the idle stabilizer.

So what do you guys think.  Should I adjust the idle to be more BTDC for the ride home, or do you think I need to replace the spark plugs?  Or some other problem?

Thanks!

Paul Borghese

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