Cough, splutter and dies on idle.....

[Malibu 75]

Hello all... Any advice on this will be gratefully recieved... This is really twisting my melon now!!! .....My G reg, petrol, 1.9 T25 is really playing up. For a while now, he'll be running ok, but he'll then start to 'cough and splutter', losing power then finding it again. Also, as soon as the revs drop down to an idle speed, it will conk out (thankfully starting again without any fuss... but a pain when you're in traffic or stopping at lights). Initially I thought it was a dirty carb (previous owner didn't bother with an air filter!) so I've cleaned up the carb and put a new air filter in, but no change! I've changed fuel filter, spark plugs, coil, HT leads, Distributor cap and have been treating the fuel with a bit of Redex... But still no joy. It's more weird as sometimes he runs lovely and the chuggy/spluttery/stalling problem doesn't rear its ugly head. Last night did a run from Ascot to Frimley and back (30miles?) and no issues. Went out this morning and only got 5 miles down the road before it started again, but this time with the occasional backfire for good measure... So, please does any one have any bright ideas as to the possible cause of the issue and the fix?? Were supposed to be off for a weeks family camping tommorow morning..... Aaarrggghhhh!!!!

[Hacksawbob]

Fuel filters?

[Malibu 75]

Fuel filters.... is there more than 1? i replaced one under the chassis but didnt think to look for another. Where would this be?

[kevtherev]

in the carb... see the wiki for that
Also it sounds as if your fuel pump might be a suspect

[Harveyian]

Ive got exactly the same problem with my g reg t25 as well. Ive tried everything including all fuel filter and carb fixing to no avail. It drivess me nuts too. Someone mentioned the other day that the fuel pump is often replaced in a different location and moving it closer to the engine often causes bubbles and the mixture to run too rich (I always have emission problems every MOT and the garage have to spend some time sorting that out as well.)

If anyone here has any bright ideas it would really help me out as well.

I share your pain. We broke down on the way to the south of France and have not really used the van since

[Malibu 75]

Thanks for the suggestions....outside taking a look now!

Harveyian I've also got a post open on the VW T25 facebook page and so far have had the following suggestions:

check hose on fuel filler neck as they perish and let water into fuel

Gasket between carb and manifold?

Will let you know of anymore I get, sounds like weve got the exact same problem

[Malibu 75]

Harveyian Just had this post on the FB page.............

Also if it's a pierburg try the hidden filter.

undo the fuel pipe and there is a small copper one, you need dig it out.

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 :)I have a 1.9 DG Petrol Watercooled Panel Van 1990 ... that im starting to believe has issues!!!!

[kevtherev]

Like I said it's all in the wiki

here

https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Fu ... -_Pierburg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Malibu 75]

Thanks Kev!

[NicBeeee]

Hi

As your symptoms includes the occasional backfire then it coulod be that you have too much fuel and are flooding the engine. (fuel entering exhaust and ingniting). Check the 3mm gap on the choke flap is set ok and that the pull down is working ok. After the initial cough splutter stop does the problem should clear itself when the engine is warm if left for a couple of minutes before restarting. If so this could be the prob as the choke should be open anyway by this point. Try giving it a run until engine is warm, cough splutter bang bang, leave for a few mins then restart and see what happens. Sorry I will not be able to answer any replies until later as I am off to Stanford Hall show and I have no internet phone and wouldnt now what to do with it if I did,

Good luck
Nic

[NicBeeee]

Hi

As your symptoms includes the occasional backfire then it could be that you have too much fuel and are flooding the engine. (fuel entering exhaust and ingniting). Check the 3mm gap on the choke flap is set ok and that the pull down is working ok. If left for a couple of minutes before restarting, after the initial cough splutter stop does the problem clear itself when the engine is warm. If so this could be the prob as the choke should be open anyway at this point. Try giving it a run until the engine is warm, cough splutter bang bang, leave for a few mins then restart and see what happens. Sorry I will not be able to answer any replies until later as I am off to Stanford Hall show and I have no internet phone and wouldnt now what to do with it if I did,

(corrected by the English language police)

[Mickyfin]

I had the same problem, and I narrowed it down to the fuel pump push rod. However, having said that, to get to this conclusion, I also rueled out/fixed my leaky exhaust, and replaced my vacuum pipes. My old pushrod was 97.5mm where the new one was 100mm.

Backfiring also points to timing, so maybe try a strobe to see if yours hasn't moved whilst renewing dizzy cap/arm etc.