Rough start

[transporter1986]

hi i am looking for a bit of advice regarding my van. Recently when starting for the first 5 minutes or so the engine runs really rough at idle speed. If i dont give it some accelerator it cuts out completely. When the engine is about to cut out the battery light flickers on. I have a brand new bosch 74 amh battery and the alternator appears to be working fine according to a volt meter. After 5 or so minutes the engine runs like normal no rough idle at all. any help would be brilliant. cheers

[Hacksawbob]

Engine size, fuel type and age?

[transporter1986]

Oh sorry its a 1986 watercooled 1.9l petrol. cheers

[kevtherev]

remove the pancake duct and look at the top of the carb
check the choke flap gap it should be 3mm when cold

X value is 3 mm
A is the flap


do you set the cold idle speed before you crank the engine?
by pressing the accelerator once or twice fully

[transporter1986]

sorry to be ignorant but what is the pancake duct ?

[kevtherev]

The black thing on top of your carburetor



here it is with the three holding nuts

[kevtherev]

once removed you'll see this



put a 3mm drill bit into the gap to check it

[transporter1986]

Thanks a lot i will take a look tomorrow. cheers

[kevtherev]

do you set the idle speed before you crank the engine when it's cold?

[transporter1986]

i always depress the accelerator a couple of times then start the engine with the clutch in. Is this what you mean?

[kevtherev]

yes that's OK then

[transporter1986]

hi there i have just checked the flap and the gap at the highest point is 3mm but at the lowest point it is larger than 3mm. more like 5mm or so. do i need to adjust the flap?

[kevtherev]

yes adjust to 3mm.. use the Haynes it's quite straight forward