Engine cutting out, various diagnoses so far

[sunshinebus]

We have an 84 Transporter, 1.9 engine, Oz import. It passed its MOT this month no problem after a winter of relative inactivity but running OK when asked. The day after the MOT it was backfiring and cutting out, and then died altogether resulting in embarrassing tow home past our local. The engine will now run OK when standing, but still cuts and backfires when moving.

Diagnoses so far from (non VW experts) include ignition system, exhaust, and distributor. Oh, and we need a new circuit board for the dash to make the dial lights work.

We are first timers and completely useless! Any suggestions or recommendations for obtaining parts or mechanics in our area gratefully received - we are in South Cheshire. And the circuit board seems like a tricky thing to get hold of!

[HarryMann]

Put a wanted ad here for the circuit board, as long as you are sure thats what's wrong, or contact Syncrospares or Syncro-Nutz who might have one.

It would help a bit if you listed what you have done so far to diagnose or eliminate any of the suspects for bad running.
Very common are air-leaks betweent the carb and manifold, or within the induction tract generally.
As is a blocked fuel filter, possibly with those symptons.. has it been run low on fuel lately?
Sometimes the rotor arm can be suspect too, and is a cheap substitution to elimnate it. But the plugs and leads won't just start misbehaving like this unless the weather has turned wet or very damp.

However, how did this start, if it went for MOT, it can't have passed like that surely, so did you drive it there and then it start this behaviour upon collection?

If so, what did the MOT garage do to it
Did they have any instructions from you to 'tune it' in any way, and what did they say about its onset?
You have to pin down the start of the problem, as you have already found it, you'll get any number of random suggestions!

Hopefully someone will recommend a good garage that knows these vehicles well, and they will be able to check the basics quickly, and elimnate them - or not.

[kevtherev]

there's a top mechanic who knows these buses well in your area

well in flintshire actually

fella called Steve at www.gasure.co.uk


sounds like water in the fuel to me

[Mocki]

sounds like garagefiddling syndrome to me, look for leads off , vac hoses off, and alike..........or fill it up with fuel, if your gauges dont work, is it empty??

[Mr Bean]

sounds like garagefiddling syndrome to me, look for leads off , vac hoses off, and alike..........or fill it up with fuel, if your gauges dont work, is it empty??

Yes you sure he didn't tweak it for you to get it through the emission test?
Just a thaought
Ken