Possible Cam Shaft probs

[4Short]

Before beginning please keep in mind that I am an absolute beginner, not only to T25s, but to auto mechanics in general, so I'm not very down with all the terminology etc. So apologies in advance!

I have 'inherited' a T25 1.9 from my Dad (don't worry he's still alive and kicking) who had the engine reconditioned about 3years ago at a local VW specialist. He has driven it very little since then due to a problem in the way that it drives. It starts fine, but then begins struggling with engaging the fuel. Eventually it stalls and of course on busy London roads this is not what you want. The problem also occurs while idling, as to begin with it sounds good and healthy, but after 5 mins or so starts becoming irregular.

Being the busy man he is and due to unforeseen circumstances my Dad was unable to do much about it in the year after the recon was under warranty. 3 years later I have now found myself going back to the same workshop who did the recon. They initially thought it may be dirt in the fuel tank. After having a full service and having the fuel tank and carburetor cleaned out a number of times, the workshop have come to the conclusion that it is most likely a worn cam shaft. Since this can hardly have been worn out after so little use since the engine was reconned we are reluctant to go into such an expensive operation (£7/800) without getting a second opinion.

The only second opinion we have on this, quite a while ago now, is a that the carb needs replacing. Our workshop however has ruled this possibility out, so I guess what I'd like to know if people have advice on whether I should go ahead with fixing the cam shaft or if there is something else more obvious. Also perhaps somebody can suggest somewhere in the South of London, (we are SE, but SW is fine) that is good for T25s.

I did have a look on the wiki tech site and didn't see anything specific to this prob there, but since I'm not familiar with all the tech terms I may well have missed something, so please point me in the right direction if there is already info on this.

Many Thanks!

[ermie571]

Hello and welcome!!!

You don't say which VW specialist you have approached. If it wasn't Elite VW in Basildon, give them a shout. 01268 581111 I think. They are stunning chaps, and really know their stuff.

Hope this helps

Em
x

[Fritz]

By the sound of things I too would be wanting yet another opinion to try to confirm either one or the other is at fault (Camshaft or Carb).

I'm sure one of our southern members can point you in the direction of trusted garage,,,,,In the mean time the only one I can offer to you is Jacks Garage in W10 as Terryvanman used to swear by them....

http://www.jacksgarage.co.uk/


Regards

Fritz,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[ermie571]

4short,

something does occur to me....being the simple minded person that I am. Are we being distracted by talk of cams and carbs?

what service items have been replaced? leads and plugs? Could they be failing when hot?

Also the coil...I think that a coil that is breaking up will give similar symptons...ie fine till warm, then missing. More recently, Toomanytoys had reported that a "new" rotor arm was resulting in poor running and intermittent cut out.

You say that after 5 mins idling it begins to play up.....can you test the sparks on each lead while it is running? (There is plenty of advice on how to do this if you use the search engine on spark - see the search button above) I won't tell you how to do it, as I am not sure!

Hope this might help - aplogies if this has already been done

[blu trukkie]

Have you checked the fuel filter lately, they usually get forgotten............... its underneath, usually, and is close to the fuel tank.

[Mocki]

you need to be going back to basics

replace fuel filter (£1) . There should only be one, near the tank outlet, if there is one in the engine bay, remove it
replace fuel if its 3 years old
Plugs, plug leads, dissy cap and rotor

if still playing up check the fuel cut off solenoid is operating correctly at time when problem happens, ive seen them wires incorrectly so they have no power when the carb heater switches off at operating temp.

[4Short]

Thanks for all the useful information guys and gals. I'm not sure if this is the correct way to say thanks since I'm new to this whole forum thing too, but I will follow up on all the useful information and hopefully sort the problem out soon.
Was hoping to have it sorted in time for Bug Jam, but looking forward to getting it up and running soon.
Cheers!

[..lee..]

never heard of a camshaft failing when warm.

would have to be made out of jelly steel me thinks.

[kevtherev]

me neither ...

fuel filter... I'd replace that first