Is this a clutch problem ? Advice very welcome please

[Wotserface]

Hi, I am hoping someone can shed some light on some problems I am having with my camper. I don't drive the van much, I had it a year ago and its only been on 3 weekend trips but I am taking it on a 300 mile trip soon

Its a 1987 VW T25 1.9 petrol. The clock shows 26000 (I hope that's 126000 not 226000 !) There have been several things fixed/done over the last few weeks by a mate so I dont know if this is coincidental or its new, or what

Things done in no particular order - buzzer from dash with flashing oil light, fixed. Temperature gauge fixed. Had a service (oil, plugs, filters) Carb taken off and cleaned no visible problems. Engine no longer smells hot. Something to do with a rotar arm fixed or changed. I am sorry to sound so vague, I am a very dizzy blonde who doesnt really know one end of a car from another but I am red hot when it comes to the benefits of bleach in the household chores

Problems I had and still have - seems to run fast when choke is or would be on but then the engine cuts out on idle until it is really warmed up.
Flat spot on setting off (see below) and now a burning plastic type smell from the front. I would lay my last pound on it being from the front, although I realise there isnt much there ?

The smell seemed to be intermittent initially but I think I have narrowed it down to when setting off or when in very built up areas ie lots of clutch and brake use. It wasn't really noticeable on the motorway. I wonder now if it is anything to do with this flat spot. I have always had the flat spot on setting off. I put it down to old age and I would generally avoid the kangaroo lurch by keeping the revs a little higher when setting off. I didn't have the smell last year, its new the last couple of days

Can anyone help identify what this smell may be, what could be causing the flat spot and what could be causing the running fast on choke but then cutting out please ?

Phew, I need a lie down after all that techie talk

[California Dreamin]

This will be vague but then the questions/symptoms are so varied.

Can anyone help identify what this smell may be, what could be causing the flat spot and what could be causing the running fast on choke but then cutting out please ?

Plastic smell up front:
Front brake caliper seizing up and getting hot/radiator veins gather water and smell when first heated/water dripping on the fuse box from a leaking windscreen on the N/S/heater blower fan or switch over heating.

Flat Spot:
Accelerator pump diaphram split so not pumping/vacuum advance unit punctured on distributor/HT leads grounding/an air leak somewhere on the inlet side.

Running fast but stalling cold:
Not uncommon anyway/weak idle mixture/carb not setup correctly/fast idle not set correctly/air leak/worn carb/idle stablilization valve inoperative/air bypass valve blocked.

Martin

[Wotserface]

Hi Martin, thank you for the reply, much appreciated

It looks like it could be sticking calliper - will report back Thanks again

[82JEW75]

Hi Martin, thank you for the reply, much appreciated

It looks like it could be sticking calliper - will report back Thanks again

One possible sign of a sticking calliper is the van pulling to one side when you take your hands off the wheel, or pulling to one side under braking.

Other problems (e.g. tracking) could also cause the van to pull to one side though and a sticking calliper might not be sticking enough to cause the van to change direction.

Regardless, all vehicles should drive, pull away and stop in a straight line, so this is a good test to carry out and easy too, just find a nice quiet carpark and see what it does.