Loss Of Power and Juddering at Speed

[cookwatty]

I have an intermittent problem with my van that only materialises when driving over 60 almost always when going uphill or in strong head winds. The van seems to suffer a loss of power and juddering almost as if it's trying to stall, but never does. Dropping the speed back down to 50 gets it driving normally again (or until the next hill).

The symptoms have been happening for over a year now,but as the van is usually used around town and drives fine I keep putting off dealing with it. After experiencing the problem once more on a long journey I've decided I don't want to do another long journey until the issue's sorted as the stress of breaking down on a motorway with kids in the van is too much.

I haven't got the facilities or knowledge to fix this myself, but would be grateful for any pointers to give to a mechanic to get them started as I can't demonstrate the symptoms in a garage.

When I last had it serviced the mechanic did say that the choke was sticking and have I considered replacing the carb. Any idea what I should expect to pay to have a carb fitted?

[dugwiththevwbug]

fuel filters are partially blocked
what you are suffering from is fuel starvation when its most needed ie under load. fuel filter under the van by the petrol tank about £3 max and fuel filter cone inside the fuel inlet on the carburettor can be blown out .

[CovKid]

I had this, hit 60 and it would die. Assuming this is a 1.9, remove the fuel pipe from carb and inside the brass pipe is a nylon cone shaped filter. You can fetch it out with a woodscrew or similar (its hidden). 10-1 its crudded up. Wash and dry with detergent and refit. Otherwise other filter is blocked. Basically float bowl is running out of fuel. As soon as you start really motoring it runs low and hey presto - stutter. die etc. Could also be pump not keeping up or anything restricting delivery but invariably its that cone filter.

[cookwatty]

Thanks for the quick replies and good advice; even though I neglected to say in my original post what type of engine it was (1.9 petrol water cooled)!

Advice sounds spot on and I did in fact have to have the fuel filter changed after the van stopped dead on the A21 last year. If it's blocking again or there's crud in the carb it sounds like I may have dirt in the petrol tank. can the fuel tank be drained and cleaned, or does it mean a new fuel tank?

[ermie571]

Make sure you check and clean the filter in the carb first.

Em
x

[ermie571]

Make sure you check and clean the filter in the carb first.

Em
x

[Ralf85]

Also check the complete fuel line as there may well be more than one filter along the line. Patrick

[kevtherev]

if there is another filter... remove it

[toomanytoys]

Need to be checking the filer neck and breather hoses as thats most likely where the crud is getting in.. top of the tank might be rusty, b ut the rubber parts go first....

[Aidan]

fuel pump pushrod worn

[cookwatty]

Just wanted to thank everyone who pointed me towards the mesh fuel filter in the fuel pipe as a cause of fuel starvation.

Had my garage clean this out and have had many judder free journeys from London to Grimsby, Manchester, Bath and Dorset since then. The van's a pleasure to drive again. The best thing is that the garage did it for free because it was such a small job. You don't get that too often.