Rough rider

Post by **ding-dang-dhu** » 12 May 2008, 05:45

Spent saturday morning working on van. Had to buy HT leads from motor factor as JK were out of stock for my van.

1988 1.9 water 5 speed.

So swapped out plugs, leads and cap. Left rotor arm in as it was glued in and not too shabby. Changed petrol filter too.

Started van and no problems. PAcked up and took the family to a sleepy spot on the Mar estate outside Braemar. Absolutley no problems, drove like a dream. On the way to the sleepy spot, I filled up with unleaded from a small rural garage. Drove another 10 miles.

Next morning after a sleepless night, boys woken up by an amazing thunderstorm and would not go back to sleep. I set off again with no problems. Drove 8 miles and stopped for a walk. The van was pointing downhill, not sure if this is relevant. Came back after an hour and the van would not start. Turned over fine by would not catch. After 10 mins of leaving it alone, it started sounding rough. From that point on all 45 miles it was really very rough. It took a lot of revving to keep it going in 1st and 2nd. When the right foot was hard down the revs varied a fair bit. Almost like I was driving a kangaroo. Not sure if that is a good description, the power was all over the place. And coming to junctions and lights It always died on me no matter what I did. It would start again fine but with lots of revving.

Anyone any ideas? Did I buy contanimated fuel?

Cheers

Pete

Post by **T'Onion** » 12 May 2008, 06:38

Did I buy contanimated fuel?

maybe

it could also be that you own petrol tank is on its way out , and got water into it from the down pour ... also parking it downhill wont have helped cos the take off is at the rear of the tank , it could be that you have a small air leak on the petrol line and its bled back ,
as for running rough , could be crap in the filter and the tank take off , check them first

Post by **ding-dang-dhu** » 12 May 2008, 09:35

Thanks for that mate.

So i'm on the right track thinking its a fuel problem?

I have the 'overfilling spills on the floor at the pump' problem too. So looks like a new tank.....

Cheers

Post by **toomanytoys** » 12 May 2008, 09:56

Sounds like water in the fuel.. have you checked the fuel filter? it will retain some of the water so you should see a "layer" in the filter..

some will have got through to the carb too.. so needs the top popping off..

Tank may be ok.. as there are a lot of rubber pipes on the top of the tank, these perish and leak/let dirt and water in.. and the filler neck rubber splits and it collects the dirt and water from the spray off the front wheel...
Could be the filler pipe if its a metal one..

need to drop the tank and do the hoses.. 5.7mm fuel injection hose fits nice on the breather tanks etc.. then the main filling breather is a good bit bigger (20mm ish), I used some oil line to do that.. DO NOt USE std heater hose for this... (as some geezer in the parts shop tried to sell it) as it isnt very strong..

Post by **kevtherev** » 12 May 2008, 15:51

check the two breather pipes too Pete, they come off the tank into a plastic bottle type thing (both sides)

mine were perished and although looked ok fell to bits in my hand

I always had poor starting and running if ever it was driven in the wet.

Post by **matt-the-sign** » 12 May 2008, 15:52

Try putting the old spark plug leads back on .....

Post by **ding-dang-dhu** » 12 May 2008, 16:45

Thanks guys, plenty to work with.

Matt, the new leads worked for a whole day. I will try and take a picture of them.

Kev thanks for that, will try that too as well as the gaiter thingy behind the filler cap.

Will keep you all informed.

Cheers

Pete

Post by **matt-the-sign** » 13 May 2008, 08:00

Im not mechanically minded at all, but I once had a Dolomite Sprint (remember those

) and I put new (cheapie) leads on and it was fine for a few days and then they got hot and broke down .... worth a try ?

Post by **toomanytoys** » 13 May 2008, 08:15

I reckon water..............

But after RedboxerK9's trouble at the weekend, that rotor arm Needs to be changed.. why is it glued on?

Post by **HarryMann** » 13 May 2008, 08:21

but I once had a Dolomite Sprint (remember those )

Yup

What a shame that engine wasn't put in the TR7 (what were they thinking of!)

Post by **toomanytoys** » 13 May 2008, 09:12

Yeah Clive, then it would have been a prety decent car, at least someone in the back shed had the bright idea to fit the v8..... well at least for a few specials... and rally car...

Post by **ding-dang-dhu** » 13 May 2008, 21:52

toomanytoys wrote:I reckon water..............

But after RedboxerK9's trouble at the weekend, that rotor arm Needs to be changed.. why is it glued on?

The rotor arm should just pull off right? Well I can't shift it. I'm 19 st and 6'4'' tall, I picked the van up trying to pull it off

I took the van out tonight for a run and broke down 100yds from house.

Much to the amuesment of my neigbours.

After much kicking of tyres and using words my mum would slap me for I managed to get 'bluie' going again.....just.

It feels like the brakes are full on, the engine has to be revved way to much to get any sort of movement and I could not get past 3 rd gear without it cutting out. It always wants to cut out, it is beyond me now I have no idea how to move on from here.

If its water in the tank, I have a 3/4 full tank of fuel, what do I do now? I meant to take pics of leads and stuff but was too peed off to bother. Will try and muster the resolve after work tomorrow.

Sorry for the moan, just wish I could turn back time and not bothered on Saturday morning.

Pete

Post by **kevtherev** » 13 May 2008, 21:58

water sinks, so it will come out at the outlet on the tank first, before fuel.
pull off the filter and see

brakes on?... can you push it on level ground?
jack rear wheel up and see if it's turntable?

moan all you want ... that's what it's all about here

that rotor arm is not good

Post by **toomanytoys** » 13 May 2008, 22:04

Have you looked at the filter??? as I said if its a "clear" type then you should be able to see the layer of water..

well that rotor arm HAS to come off at some point.. so get another and break the old one by using some large pliers... DO NOT hit it with a hammer.. make sure no bits can drop into the botom of it... BUT.. if the dizzy is fubared... then you are gonna need a replacement too...

Brakes... doubt it.. if water in carb then you have no power.. they like to run on petrol, not water

Post by **ding-dang-dhu** » 13 May 2008, 22:11

kevtherev wrote:water sinks, so it will come out at the outlet on the tank first, before fuel.
pull off the filter and see

brakes on?... can you push it on level ground?
jack rear wheel up and see if it's turntable?

moan all you want ... that's what it's all about here

that rotor arm is not good

Thanks Kev, will try those. I need to get to the bottom of it soon as I have sent off for tickets for Volksfling next weekend.

Brakes are fine, I was trying to convey lack of power. I went up hill in 3rd doing 30 mph, with the engine screaming at me. If I changed down it would cut out but had not enough power to change up further than 3rd.

Will try again tomorrow.

Cheers for all the help guys

Pete