2.1 engine problem

[Wolfwagen]

Having an intermittent engine cut out problem. It used to start from cold fine and then after a few miles die. If you tried to start it, it would run for a very short while at 100 or so revs no matter where the throttle was and then splutter to a stop. After half an hour or so it would start and run fine.. We started it two days ago in the workshop and it ran for five mins when it then stoppped and failed to start over the next few days of trying ....until today when it started and ran fine in the workshop for over an hour! The engine has done 120000 miles, the fuel tank has not long been replaced along with the fuel pump and filter and the blue water sensor(all VW parts) does any one have any answers as it diving us mad...

[kevtherev]

deleted
oops senior moment
what a nob I am

[tonytech]

The title of the post is 2.1 engine....
T

[Wolfwagen]

1990 2.1 fuel injected DJ... Did they make them in any other capacity?

May have a case of 'Vanagon Sydrome' does it sound that way?

[KarlT]

Have you done full service? Filters air & petrol, Plugs, leads, rotor arm?

[kevtherev]

First thing to figure out is, when it won't start, is it because of a lack of fuel, or a lack of spark? If the engine has both those things it will usually at least start.

Keep some tools handy and the next time this happens you can try to diagnose it.

I usually check for fuel first. A favorite test is to spray some starting fluid in the air intake and then see if it will turn over and run briefly. If so, it's not getting fuel.

Check the wires(3) going into your distributor, they go to the hall sender, are small, and can crack and ground out = no spark

fuel pump relay (inside the high voltage box). They can get weak or suffer complete failure.

[Wolfwagen]

Many thanks. Will keep checking through things.

[Aidan]

ignition amplifier 2 to 1 on

[Mr Bean]

I had a similar problem to that and after replacing the entire ignition system and eliminating the fuel and injecction system it turned out to be a completely random ECU fault which would do aanything from 4 to 58 miles before sulking until it got recovered (7 times in all) Funny thing was that all the lights were on and music was playing during the fault but clearly no one was home in the go department.
I am afraid the 2.1WBX is several steps too far ahead in the gismo stakes
Cheers Wolfie