wheeze gasp splutter

[edoh]

on starting up - the van seems hesitant -
takes 2 or 3 goes to get going -
then doesn't retain its idle speed -
so have to keep the accelerator pedal on the go - to keep it from stalling -

continues like this for a few minutes - til the engine starts to warm up -
then runs absolutely fine for - until the next time i try and start with a cold engine -

correct starting procedure? - yep
flap on varb opening and closing - yep
new fuel filters and pump n push rod - yep
no blockages in fuel tank or lines -
spray w carb cleaner round hoses n carb doesn't produce any change in engine speed -

any other ideas?

[Evsi]

What's it like mechanically? If the usual suspects (plugs/leads/dizzy cap/rotor arm) have been checked, then maybe do a compression test to see what the motor's like.

[Ian Hulley]

new fuel filters

There should only be the one filter near the tank on the offside (RHD vans)

[edoh]

thanks for the quick responses gents -
van has an 'extra' (yep i know - dangerous and unnecessary) filter leaving the fuel pump in engine bay -
on the list of things to sort out - wonder why people put them in - in the first place?
compression test sounds useful -
replaced most of the ignition side over last few months -
would a blowing gasket (joining exhaust to engine) produce similar symptoms?
any easy way of checking?

[Ian Hulley]

Replace the engine bay fuel hose and leave just the correct inline filter and report back.

Ian

[edoh]

will give it a go

[mike_gee32]

Must be the time of year for this to happen, my van which has been running faultlessly for ages has started doing this as well I wonder whether it could be an air leak I replaced the vacuum pipes from carb to dizzy and airbox before xmas as one of them was completely shot but the only replacements I could find weren't very good quality (standard pearly wotnots) and the plastic pipe seemed a bit loose in the rubber ends.
I saw some straight vacuum pipe in halfords at the weekend so might try replacing with that.

[kevtherev]

continues like this for a few minutes - til the engine starts to warm up -
then runs absolutely fine for - until the next time i try and start with a cold engine

says to me that you have either an air leak weakening the enrichment or the opposite and it's over-fueling

try the gaskets at the head and the servo hose
does the shut choke have a 3mm gap when cold?

does the manifold heater and choke heater work ok?

[R0B]

Because they are unaware of the one after the tank.

wonder why people put them in - in the first place?

[Dave307]

van has an 'extra' (yep i know - dangerous and unnecessary) filter leaving the fuel pump in engine bay

Ok maybe a dumb question but why. Mine has a fuel filter between pump and carb. Was on there when I got it and I have just replaced it when I did the other one by the tank. Should it not be there. AA man told me it's a much better idea to have one than not.

Worried now. Sorry to hijack your thread.

[Ian Hulley]

van has an 'extra' (yep i know - dangerous and unnecessary) filter leaving the fuel pump in engine bay

Ok maybe a dumb question but why. Mine has a fuel filter between pump and carb. Was on there when I got it and I have just replaced it when I did the other one by the tank. Should it not be there. AA man told me it's a much better idea to have one than not.

Worried now. Sorry to hijack your thread.

The AA man's talking out of his ar$€, the engine bay is full of heat sources ... there is a filter IN the carb designed that way. Why add to the number of breaks in the pipework to and from the carb.

Ian

[kevtherev]

Logic tells me after the first tank filter there is no possibility of contamination until the pump, after the pump is the carb filter

[edoh]

'says to me that you have either an air leak weakening the enrichment or the opposite and it's over-fueling

try the gaskets at the head and the servo hose
does the shut choke have a 3mm gap when cold?

does the manifold heater and choke heater work ok?'

cheers for that -
will have a look - if/when the rain lets up -

that second filter question - i too had been told by previous owner "useful to see that your fuel is clean" when i brought the van -
enough scare stories and information on the wiki have convinced me otherwise.....

thanks again for your comments everyone -