Club 80-90 Forums

Small update; in the week I went though all the electrical connections around the engine bay, cleaned the contact and reconnected.  Drove down the M3 to the New Forest for a couple of nights and drove back today, (touching wood) the issue didn't happen.  I feel like maybe its not the last of it, but...

Aidan, thanks so much for all of that.  Over the weekend I'll go through all the connections; it could be the case after the new engine install I can see movement and tampering could lead to some loose connections.  I replaced the braided earth in Feb time this year and at the same time cleaned down...

@Mocki - thank you, yeah I did search and found quite a bit but nothing specifically on a 1.9 DH.  Thank you RE timing info and also Carb convert info.  How easy is that procedure / how expensive would it be? @Aidan - Based in Harrow (North West London).  It rained once on the trip to Norfolk when i...

Hey all! Looking for some thoughts/advice. My van is a 1986 1.9 wbx with a factory fitted fuel injection system.  I've been told they are very rare, but looking online it seems like there are quite a few across the pond in the US. I had a new engine installed in May/June 2021 by the VW Engine Compan...

Hi all, A rancid burnt smell, that almost has a hint of dead animal to it is coming from the engine after it's been driven a short distance (5 miles or so +). 2 months ago I had a new clutch, so I wouldn't have thought it would be that?  You can't smell while driving, only after you have parked up. ...

I had the same experience on the M4 around Swindon enroute to Bristol just after I got my first WBX van almost 16 years ago. I pulled off the motorway, the reservoir had water and phoned the guy I bought it from who convinced me it was fine so carried on albeit tentatively. The engine finally seize...

Okay. Consider spinning the blades on the water pump by hand before fitting belt and water. It should spin fairly silently. Twist the pulley to see if it has play. If so then likely knackered. If the exhaust is new-ish and engine rebuilt 20 years ago then it should all come apart without any issues...

After belt gave out did you drive camper at motorway speeds to a point of excessive steam coming out of the back? You have a temp gauge on the dash, you know! Its either on one or both sides that the water jackets have failed. These are the rubber seals between the cylinder heads and main block. Ho...

Hi all!  I had an unfortunate Easter weekend that resulted in the alternator belt breaking on the M4, the water pump failing, meaning the engine overheating and I am told the head gasket blowing (by RAC ).  From doing some research it is possible to repair, but very labour intensive and you really n...