Pierburg 2e3 carburettor. Not starting up :(

[JJ-Frank89]

Hey all,

Van running great last week. Had a full service and thought it was going great. Friday just gone I went to drive it and it started up but them bottomed out. Now it won't start at all. Turns over but no firing. Called breakdown cover He said it was either the gasket leaking air or the vacuum unit. But somewhere is causing the secondary throttle diaphragm to not open. Fuel getting to carb fine, all sparks firing up, checked all hoses and advance and retard hose was split. Replaced that. Took off carb and turn upside down. Loads of fuel poured out (this is normal) replaced the gasket seal with gasket paper. Refitted, went to start it up and whrum! It started first time. I revved it a few times and thought excellent sounds great. But as soon as I let the pedal go it cut out and ever since it's doing exactly the same thing. I've took the carb off again but some things I'm a little baffled by I've read it might be a metal hose on the carb itself that might be leaking air or the vacuum unit. When I try to start the vacuum unit does not move, which I guess it should once a vacuum has occurred? It's a 1.9 petrol DG 1989.

Any ideas?
Thanks
James

[Novice in need]

All i can suggest is that there is a blockage in the main fuel jet (inside carb body) or even that the fuel pump is on its way out or gone, fuel filters especially little one on the inlet of carb/clean it out.

Why i say this is because an air leak shouldnt shop it from starting...... it would start but run rough even stall (mine had air leaks galore)
The fact that you removed & turned upside down the carb etc leads me to believe that you dislodged a dirt particle in a jet somewhere.

Have you stripped it and cleaned it with carb cleaner (good soaking by immersion of carb individual components)

There is loads of info on here as lots of simular posts with probs on Pierburg 2e3's ... me included so i finally have opted to snd it away to get a complete overhaul by Bromyards.

Hope this helps

[JJ-Frank89]

Hey Novice,

You could be right there, when it turns over the carb seems to fill up and spill out with fuel like it can't send it anywhere.

I've taken the thing home and sprayed every crevice with carb cleaner. Looks lovely and clean now I noticed one of my vacuum inlets was slightly blocked and needed a good blow through it's hose to clear it. All it's hoses are clear as well.

I'm having trouble recognising, and I quote from another post: "the little 'hidden' cone filter tucked inside brass fuel inlet pipe on carb". Is this inlet pipe supposed to have a hole about the size of a pinhead or have I got a amazingly strong buildup of crud that I cannot budge? Is this even the right inlet pipe?

Not being able to drive him over the weekend filled me with rage but I'm starting to appreciate this trial and error process, plus I'm learning what I'm driving, which is half the fun of owning the thing!

[Novice in need]

The inlet pipe on the carb is fed from the fuel pump, take the fuel line off and there is a little filter in the inlet pipe (take it out using a screw, screw the screw in gentle just enough to get a grip on the filter inside to pull out) .

It does sound as if this is really clogged up by your reply and quote from another post ie "the little 'hidden' cone filter tucked inside brass fuel inlet pipe on carb" try taking the crud out enough to get the screw in so you can extract the whole filter for a proper inspection and clean!

the fun begins

[JJ-Frank89]

I found the little blighter and it was half blocked with poop. Never would have known that was even there. I'm going to replace the fuel filter that is closest to the tank as well, this is almost black inside.

I'm now worried that if my problem is dirty fuel, this could easily repeat itself soon after fixing. (stupid question alert!) Is there anyway of checking the condition of the fuel tank's interior?

This has happened after not having much, if any, fuel over the winter to having about £45 worth of drink put in last week. I hope it's only sucked in crud from being almost empty.

I'm going to work on it Friday so I'll let you know how I get along.

Thanks again for the help

[Novice in need]

No worries glad its helped....

[Ian Hulley]

I'm now worried that if my problem is dirty fuel, this could easily repeat itself soon after fixing. (stupid question alert!) Is there anyway of checking the condition of the fuel tank's interior?

Short of taking the tank off (NOT a pleasant job re-fitting it unless you have deformed limbs or are 3/4 chimpanzee) your best bet is to check all the fittings on the filler neck and breather tubes, make sure the grommets are all in the top of the tank and check the replacement inline filter regularly.

Ian.

[JJ-Frank89]

Damn, I had to give up my chimp helper only last week.
I thought it would be a difficult job.

Thanks for the tip Ian, I'll inspect and report.

[waltraud]

I've done this and don't worry too much about dirty fuel, it is aftr all, new fuel filter or even two if you're anxious about it. Cleaning that little tiny filter on the inlet is important but have you also taken out the jets and blown through- ideally with compressed air? Does the choke open when you start ehr up, if not try opening it very slightly with something. I have another pierburg if u find you need one. T

[JJ-Frank89]

Thanks for the offer Mr T,
but my dad has gladly bought a second hand one off eBay for 64 of your English pounds!
However, I put my original Pierburg back on today and hey presto! It started lovely and I took it for a nice long drive.
I think the main problem was the clogged up vacuum inlets for both the air filter and advance and retard hoses. No vacuum meant no opening of second throttle diaphragm. Cleaning the whole thing with carb cleaner, new air filter, a new in-line fuel filter & cleaning out the fuel inlet filter always helps.
Except it seems to be running very rich (I get small plums of dark smoke when I give it some). I must have fiddled with something I shouldn't have.

Where do I adjust the air/fuel mixture on this thing?

So now in fact I have a spare pierburg if anyone needs one
I'm gonna keep it for a week or so just until I'm happy with the one I've got but I'll probably put it back on eBay if no one yells.

Many thanks for your help fellows.

[waltraud]

Good news, the mixture adjustment screw is recessed. At the base on the the as u look at it , turn in until it drops off revs and then out a little and it should be near!

[JJ-Frank89]

O-kay.
Bad news. The carb started doing the same thing again. Flooding and not starting
So put that to one side.

And here's one I made earlier.
So I've put the Pierburg on from eBay and it's only problem is it doesn't hold it's idle when the engine is cold. Once driven for 10 minutes (restarting at every moment I release the throttle) and warmed up it gets by ok.

I've read some similar posts that it could be:

the idle cut off valve?
or the tick over screw?

Where can I find this tick over screw?

Thanks!

[Novice in need]

Just a little advise (from experience of Pierburg problems) put the carb back on Ebay and put that money towards a complete overhaul by Bromyards of the other.

Honestly iv been trying to get the settings right on mine so the thing runs ok and it is very difficult, especially without a gas analyser, this is because one setting can and usually is interrelated to another.

It really will save you alot of time and stress in the long run

[kevtherev]

Sound advice young Novice

mixture has to be set using a gas analyser.... "that'll do" won't do I'm afraid

sounds like you got rid of your problem for someone else's... but that's e bay for you

[JJ-Frank89]

Last weekend I called a local mobile mechanic I know to come and take a look at the 'eBay' carb.

We had a thorough check of everything and near giving up, he literally twisted my distribution cap by say 1-2mm and wowzza it has made all the difference. So I guess it was something to do with my timing? Idles great every time now.

I'm still completely confused but if it runs we're happy.


I know it's off topic but we went to Volks World show (our first vw outing!) and was sad to see so little of the T25