Volvo Repair: 1982 Volvo 240 GL stalling out, volvo 240 gl, vacuum leak

Question
My normally very faithful 1982, 240 has stalled out three times recently--all three times in drive through lanes.  Twice it has threatened to stall out on sharp turns.  It seems fine on idle when stopped.  For months I have been hearing the hiss of a vacuum hose and have asked at my garage about this only to be told it was nothing to worry about.  I recently had the in-tank fuel pump replaced at a Volvo specialty shop that's so far from my home that I don't want to have to have to go back there unless it's absolutely necessary.  Can you help?  Is something shorting out on the sharp curves?

Thanking you in advance,

CW

Answer
  Carolynn, here's what usually happens. It's not the curves causing the stalling, it's the rapid let off of the gas pedal as you prepare to turn. Whoever told you to ignore the hissing vacuum sound is an idiot. When a vacuum leak occurs and causes the engine to idle higher than normal, the idle stabilizer cuts the idle circuit to almost zero to try to compensate. When it's at this lowest setting and you let off the throttle quickly, it sometimes cannot adjust quickly enough(open)to catch the engine from stalling. It may be a little sticky with age/grime too, but the bottom line is, find and cure that vacuum leak and clean the stabilizer motor passages and valve and everything else will take care of itself.

Mark