Aircooled Camper poor starting in cold weather

[palmerw]

Hi All,

I've had a quick look but could't see anything relevant on the forum.

Had the same problerms last year, and since had a new engine and refubed carbs (stock Solex's) by elite in Basildon.

Basically in colder weather the van fails to idle without me feathering the throttle and having to clear it's throught in the mornings. It then runs lumpy while I drive 5 miles to work (not an often occurance). Lots of fluid out the exhaust this morning, smelt like water. Last time I had this problem there didn't seem to be water in fuel.

So it's got a new engine and has been running fine through the summer, happened before new engine and now so I guess it leaves carbs (maybe a problem with the chokes in the cold?!) and fueling system.

Do other Aircooled owners find start up problems in the cold? Am I asking too much for an old vehicle?

Any help would be appreciated,

Cheers,

Will

[toomanytoys]

I'd start with choke adjustment, but it could be that the fast idle screw on may need a turn or 2 so that it holds the revs up a little more..

And yes.. its asking a lot to start a 30 year old vehicle and expect it to run just like your 5 year old other car as it has no electronics to make it run.. its all mechanical so depends on how well its set.. its difficult to set the chokes in summer so they work well in winter.. I have seen so many carb engnes that are over choked in winter coz they have been set up in summer..

Do you press the throttle to the floor BEFORE starting to reset the throttle and chokes when cold? trying to start from wherever they switched off the day before wont help...

Invariably any mechanical system can only do so much and a little intervention from the right foot is required to keep running and clear its throat.. Oh.. dont go turning stuff if you are not sure what you are doing though.. worth seeking the assistance from someone that knows...

[ermie571]

Hi mate,

my old aircoole was similar. Make sure you press the throttle to the floor a couple of times to set the choke as per TTT above! Yes, I used to hold the revs a bit before pulling away. And if it was truly cold, I would do the old VW tap dance, of brake accelerator at the first set of lights!

Just go out a couple of minutes earlier, and let the old girl warm up a bit! I have taught my teenagers how to hold the throttle on mine while I scrape ice (that was last winter). This winter they will be scraping ice while I hold the throttle!!!

Enjoy your van!

Em
x

[palmerw]

Thanks both for your comments.

I'll have a look at choke adjustment. Idle revs are ok when it's going.

I'm sort of expecting it to run like my 5 year old other car because It's got reconned engine and carbs and I'm sure that 30 years ago people would expect the van to run without problems. If it's a case of tuning the chokes etc depending on time of year then brilliant, I just need to understand because the vehicle is older than me!

Yes I do reset the chokes before starting. After doing that the van will attempt to run up and idle before spluttering and stalling.

Thanks Em, VW tap dance sounds good!

Cheers,

Will