Intermittent conking out - any ideas?

Post by **richyrich** » 07 Aug 2007, 21:54

Here's a conundrum...

Every so often my T25 (DG 1.9 carburettor) engine just stops. Then, after waiting 10-15 minutes, it will restart, and carry on as if nothing had happened.

It usually happens after some kind of lifting off on the pedal (e.g. coming up to a roundabout or set of traffic lights after a steady run). It will cough, splutter and die. If I try to restart, it will start and run for about 1-2 seconds and then die. If I wait the aforementioned 10-15 minutes (or start phoning the breakdown people, or have a cup of tea), it will restart normally after a few attempts and then no problem.

If, while I am waiting, I reach in the hatch at the back and give the accelerator pump on the carb (Pierburg 2E3) a few pumps, it will start and run for about 6-8 seconds instead of the usual 1-2 secs. This seems to indicate to me a fuel starvation problem.

I have replaced the inline fuel filter, and when the problem occurs, the inline filter appears to be full of fuel. I haven't changed the fuel pump (the one offered by GSF didn't fit), but I measured the pushrod and it was 99.6mm long against the specified 100mm. To correct this I left off the top gasket (above the plastic spacer block) to give the pump a bit more preload. The pump itself seems to suck a vacuum if I pump it manually with my finger over the inlet.

Any ideas? Blocked jet? Stuck float needle valve?

Thanks

Post by **hembo666** » 07 Aug 2007, 22:03

ours (1.9DG) has been doing it for months and i still cant find an answer,its just like someone turned off the key. it does it more when its cold and usually more if i let the revs drop quickly. but it always starts straight away, usually needing a foot on the gas.

Had a complete strip down and clean done on the carb. and checked lines and filter. but still no improvment.

let me know if you come up with an answer.

Post by **richyrich** » 07 Aug 2007, 22:11

It's not because you've ripped the dash apart to sell the blue circuit board to some dodgy bloke, is it?

Post by **hembo666** » 07 Aug 2007, 22:15

nah, that was from a spare unit, unless i have gremlins operating my dash electrics at the moment

Post by **dazzzer1** » 08 Aug 2007, 07:46

had a situation b4 when the pump appeared to work but if you restricted the hole it wouldnt pump, ie when its under load then it struggles, also look for a second filter, a second one is often fitted as previous owners never found the one near the tank and fitted a second one unknowingly

just a couple of ideas...

Post by **richyrich** » 08 Aug 2007, 10:07

I think I might change the pump anyway (that's if I can find one that fits - the GSF one had both inlet and outlet in line with each other and they clashed with the breather chimney). But under load (e.g. climbing 1:4 hills on Dartmoor) there was no problem at all - that's the weird thing.

I'll check for other filters. The one that I replaced was just a mesh screen, and it had bits of chod and scale poking out of the mesh holes which kind of implies it wasn't doing a great job.

Post by **_wendy_** » 08 Aug 2007, 10:17

our van is fine when running on motorway or going up hills etc, it runs great then. it just stalls when we are slowing down at junctions or parking etc

Post by **ermie571** » 08 Aug 2007, 10:41

The camper did that......nudged up the idle a tad......now idles fine at junctions

Emma

Post by **richyrich** » 08 Aug 2007, 12:33

Hmm, don't think it's the usual "too low idle speed" problem. Most of the time it runs really sweetly, nice stable idle. It's just this occasional packing up that's the problem.

Is there some kind of vent or breather hole in the carb float bowl or tank which might be clogging up? I tried releasing the filler cap when the problem happens, there was no sudden gasp of air and it didn't solve the problem.

Post by **meggles** » 08 Aug 2007, 13:56

Hi, I know you said you cleaned and stripped carb but.... I did too, three times in fact before I cured my problem.. Turned out to be, I think, a bit of rubber off a fuel line which was disintegrating internally. I used compressed air and looked at jet in float chamber and never saw anything, until the third time. Don't know why but it appeared to lodge away from jet each time I cleaned/checked carb. Worth checking again, and again, very carefully. Hope this helps. BTW, I replaced black rubber hose with clear plastic stuff now. Good Luck.

Post by **airhead** » 08 Aug 2007, 16:54

I had this problem in my bay. The needle valve in the top of the float chamber in the carb was sticking shut, the float chamber was emptying and not refilling fast enough so it would die. In 15 minutes the float chamber would fill again and Id be off for another few miles and then it would die again. Might be worth a check with yours.