newbie needs help engine wont idle

[spike blonde]

HI people, am a very newbie t25 owner, had my van for about 2 weeks and have absoloutly no mechanic or van experiance.
my problem is this, when i start up the van engine can be slow to start up but will start up, as long as i have my foot on the gas it will run, as soon as i take my foot off accellerator enginge slows n stalls, can sometimes keep it goin by steppin on gas again but sometimes that doesnt work, cannot get the engine to continouosly run or idle.
now ive been goin through similar past probs on here n tried a few things but am now at wits end (landlady of the place i was keepin it has thrown a hissy fit n wants the "eyesore" movin by end of week bah)
ive checked all the fuel lines n replaced mucky fuel filters checked electrics and vacuum pipes n so on for air leaks but am at a loss as to wot to try next. any advice/suggestions would be greatfully recieved either for other stuff to try or of any mechanics i could call out in the liverpool/ formby area
i kno the engine is 1.9 i think its a dg n the carb is a 2e but i dont know enough to know if its a 2e3 or 2e4 have posted some pics(if they work) of engine if that helps, hope some one can point me in right direction, let me kno if there is other info that would be helpful, just remember b gentle its my first time haha

[kevtherev]

Idle cut off solenoid?

https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Fu ... -_Pierburg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; number 8

there's a test in the haynes for it

Does it happen when it's cold or hot or both?

[kervinmervin]

Hi there,

Mine does exactly the same, I just keep my foot slightly on the gas, not great and difficult when trying to reverse of a narrow drive!! Mines ok when I've been out for a run, its just an issue from start up. I put it down to the carb needing a good clean, one day when I the have time and confidence to take it apart I will try and clean it, may have a look at the cut off solenoid now as well.

Not sure if it is a DG it has a slightly different pipe arrangement to mine.

Sorry its not an answer.

Good luck.

[CovKid]

Solenoid, idle stabilising unit, air leaks, badly out of tune or worn engine. Think you'll need to go at this AA style and rule out what it isn't, bit by bit. Oh - check that auto choke is working too - especially if no idle when cold.

[spike blonde]

Idle cut off solenoid?

https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Fu ... -_Pierburg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; number 8

there's a test in the haynes for it

Does it happen when it's cold or hot or both?

thanks for the reply
happens hot or cold
sorry to be dim is the idle cut off solenoid different to starter solenoid? where would i find the idle solenoid is it connected in/around the carb?
only ask as have had a few semihelpful ppl stoppin as they go by offerin advice one was ex mech who said he knew little bout van engines but showed me how to test a solenoid in the carb(disconnectin, turning key to 1st place then puttin connector to solenoid to see if it clicks... which it did)
if its that one i think its working , been starin at the haynes so long last few days its all starting to look jibberish haha

[spike blonde]

Hi there,

Mine does exactly the same, I just keep my foot slightly on the gas, not great and difficult when trying to reverse of a narrow drive!! Mines ok when I've been out for a run, its just an issue from start up. I put it down to the carb needing a good clean, one day when I the have time and confidence to take it apart I will try and clean it, may have a look at the cut off solenoid now as well.

Not sure if it is a DG it has a slightly different pipe arrangement to mine.

Sorry its not an answer.

Good luck.

tried that first time it happened hopin once warm might idle got bout a mile away and as it had cut out n needed restarting at every junction finally cut out at a set of lights(with me at the front) n the battery was flat from the restarts n had to be recovered, very embarrasing so in no rush to drive it anywhere till it can sit on drive and idle under its own power thanks for the luck wishes ima need them i think

[Steve T]

SB
If the carb fast idle / choke is working ok.......(I'm guessing it has automatic choke) from cold, the starting procedure is 1 pump on the throttle, push down, release slowly, then start without throttle, it should start and run at fast idle, if not try 2 pumps on the throttle. If this works and fast idle is working when the engine warms blip the throttle to drop the idle speed. Warm engine starting, push down throttle slowly while starting. Hope this might help to resolve but could be a number of things, sticky fast idle not opperating, air getting into system, dirty fuel, fuel filter blocked, spark plugs / HT leads, rotor arm, . Not expensive items You have done the obvious bits allready, others will need to be replaced as a routine service as and when it is needed, you resolve problems as you go one by one. You will get better running from a bit of regular use to get to know its quirks. Any service history or info from previous owner as to what is newish or been replaced?
Welcome by the way

Steve

[spike blonde]

SB
If the carb fast idle / choke is working ok.......(I'm guessing it has automatic choke) from cold, the starting procedure is 1 pump on the throttle, push down, release slowly, then start without throttle, it should start and run at fast idle, if not try 2 pumps on the throttle. If this works and fast idle is working when the engine warms blip the throttle to drop the idle speed. Warm engine starting, push down throttle slowly while starting. Hope this might help to resolve but could be a number of things, sticky fast idle not opperating, air getting into system, dirty fuel, fuel filter blocked, spark plugs / HT leads, rotor arm, . Not expensive items You have done the obvious bits allready, others will need to be replaced as a routine service as and when it is needed, you resolve problems as you go one by one. You will get better running from a bit of regular use to get to know its quirks. Any service history or info from previous owner as to what is newish or been replaced?
Welcome by the way

Steve

thanks Steve is good to be here
tried that start up routine( noticed it mentioned somewhere on here cuz it wasnt passed onto me by previous owner) prob is wont start without pumpin throttle, once its runnin cant keep it running long enough to blip it to drop idle speed so im figurin its somethin to do with the idle or choke possibly?
like u say have replaced clogged filters, put fresh fuel in checked the sparks n ht leads they all seem ok( tho the sparks look like its burning rich) dunno what the rotor arm is? back the haynes for that haha. i dont think theres any air leaks, all the relevant pipes are tight on n feel in good nick, i kno it could poss leakin from other places but cant keep engine runnin long enough to check.
i kno wot u mean bout gettin to kno its quirks tho, have spotted n sorted various other un related issues that ive noticed during trying to fix this prob.
the van came with little history tho i do kno the guy, he has fixed various things or had stuff fixed, new brakes/pipes n such but i have a feelin much of it has been basic juryriggin to keep it goin, has been sat pretty much unused for last six months or so, sayin that wen i was lookin it over with veiw to takin off his hands van started no probs(other than battery not being correctly connected, first job i sorted). van was fine on journey from manc to liverpool n on further journeys to southport so the missus could get used to drivin her, is why this is such a mystery really, part n parcel of ownin a 20 odd yr old vehicle i guess?
oh the only ther thing is my mate said engine is not the original, was a 1.6 n replaced with 1.9 tho i dunno how long ago.
whew bit of a windy reply, but thanks for givin me some other things to think about checkin
spike

[spike blonde]

apologies to all i keep hittin quote instead of reply, will get used to it soon

[kevtherev]

Have you tried the idle speed adjuster?

screw it in half a turn?

[spike blonde]

i think so, if the idle speed adjuster is the big long screw thing near the carb n by the throttle bit (u can tell im new huh? haha) looked at that but in its original position from when every thin was workin it was all the way out so nothing was being pushed by it or coming to rest on it, it looks like it would have to be screwed in a good 1/4 inch before it started to interfere with (carb/throttle valve?) didnt want to start movin stuff from the last known workin positions till i was sure that was nessisary, how does the idle speed adjuster work? do u screw it down so it stops the choke? valve from closing completly?
please all feel free to correct all the wrong bits im refering to, i need to learn
thanks again
spike

[kevtherev]

i think so, if the idle speed adjuster is the big long screw thing near the carb n by the throttle bit (u can tell im new huh? haha) looked at that but in its original position from when every thin was workin it was all the way out so nothing was being pushed by it or coming to rest on it, it looks like it would have to be screwed in a good 1/4 inch before it started to interfere with (carb/throttle valve?) didnt want to start movin stuff from the last known workin positions till i was sure that was nessisary, how does the idle speed adjuster work? do u screw it down so it stops the choke? valve from closing completly?
please all feel free to correct all the wrong bits im refering to, i need to learn
thanks again
spike

Well you could always put it back, just count the turns in till the engine idle speed picks up.

it works by holding the throttle butterfly in the carb throat open just a tad.
the more open it is the faster it idles

it's independent from the choke flap

[spike blonde]

thanks for that, somethin else i can try tommoro

[kevtherev]

If I screw my idle speed screw out till it doesn't touch.... the engine dies

[spike blonde]

If I screw my idle speed screw out till it doesn't touch.... the engine dies

thanks for the advice,
have tried idle speed screw, does seem to have improved it in that it will fun for a little longer b4 cuttin out,
how should i b lookin at it? should i just keep turnin it half a turn n startin it n keep doin that till it idles on its own or can u go too far? is there a point wen you have to stop n realise it might b something else.
also now it is running for a little longer before cutting out i have noticed there seems to b a bit of lag between me stepping on the gas pedal and anything happening at the engine, any suggestions? accelerator cable too slack perhaps?
as ever all suggestions gratfully recieved
spike