Problems broke down today

[mike the van]

First time I 've had to get a tow from the AA in the bus, I try and give the beast a run at least once a week in the winter to keep things flowing.
It a 2.o ltr A/C
Started fine perhaps a bit rough but no more then usual at a cold start and ran OK for about a mile, then less and less power wouldn't even tackle a gentle hill, then stalling as soon as foot off accelerator, ie junctions ! Then difficult to start, but once statrted revved OK ish, but as soon as you move off stalls , no inclination to move off. Managed to roll far enough downhill and roll in to layby off main road.
Tried several times again to start and as the same again as soon as clutch took the load the engine dies. Tried again this evening and getting a tow home by AA tomorrow.

ran fine last week and all pipes and hoses seem OK and where they should be !

Any ideas, I am thinking fuel starvation under load (fuel pump) or water in tank, had lots of horizontal rain (west coast of scotland) getting into knackered fuel tank.

Any ideas
Cheers
Mike

member 1491

[missusjen]

I know nothing - but my first thought would be fuel.........think Dazzer had a similar experience when he had water in his petrol a while back

Carbs???

[TechtroT25]

Sounds like fuel to me pull the outlet pipe off the fuel pump and hold a glass next to pump to catch fuel while someone turns it over a couple of times leave ti to stand and if theirs any water in it ,it should seperate if nothing comes out you have got a big blockage or your pumps knackered hope this helps Stef

[Blingpanzer]

Another thought; how long since the van's been run? Petrol has a shelf life; after a while its octane degrades and the result is rough running, power loss and pre-ignition. I'd drain the tank and try fresh fuel before doing anything more involved. Redex might help clean the system out too, and a good shot of carb cleaner should shift any cr*p from the carbs.

[futurecut]

sounds similar to what happenned to me a few posts down....Did it judder at all. Think it's my pump.

[mike the van]

Cheers for the advice

Got it back home now, there is a nasty petrolly oily smell (so whats new) but there is a pipe running from near or off the fuel pump (breather ???) that is dripping petrolly oily crud.

What if the pump is knackered are the options, repairable , new mechanical, secondhand or new electric. Will aalsoo check if water contamination as well.

Well naffed off as the rain is unrelenting up here

Mike

[skeeb]

let us know how you get on mike. My van develpoed a similar problem the weekend before last - but its running fine now. I think the problem may return though so any feedback would be useful

laterz
skeeb

[Cruz]

Another thought; how long since the van's been run? Petrol has a shelf life; after a while its octane degrades and the result is rough running, power loss and pre-ignition. I'd drain the tank and try fresh fuel before doing anything more involved. Redex might help clean the system out too, and a good shot of carb cleaner should shift any cr*p from the carbs.

What is the shelf life of petrol?

[mike the van]

I have been told unleaded is the worst for losing it's oomph. I worked somewhere that had emergency generators and they had to get fresh fuel every time they needed them, instead of leaving them in store ready to go!
Sort of defeats the object. Timewise , I have a polo that gets occasional use and that is difficult to start after the fuel is older than a month ??

Mike

[mike the van]

Finally had some dry weather and had a look at the fuel filter a bit of water in it not a huge amount.
Started the beast again after changing fuel filter and it was spitting out a mix of petrol and probably water out of the exhaust, starts fine 'ish, but will idle without a bit of throttle !
Offside carb also iced up is this as a result of water in the fuel or something else, Feeling a right numpty as the answer I am sure is obvious.
Going to drain petrol tank in any case just to see if there are any holes, or maybe water has got through a perished filler seal or grommet !

Any thoughts

Mike 1491

[Hacksawbob]

checked the carb balance pipe for leaks?