Gradually running worse, now it wont run!

[maximillion]

Hi,

Having some problems with my 81 Aircooled 2.0l CJ, and after some advice on how to track the problem down, i am no mechanic but know enough to get me by.

It all began a couple of weeks ago, on a run down to the new forest, it started to hesitate and lose power occasionally under load, hills etc but got me there and back, when it wasn't hesitating It ran well and was happy at 60 or so.

Driven it on a few short journeys since with no real problems but as we are off on holiday in two weeks thought i'd better have a look at it. Monday night i changed the dirty fuel filter, put a little red x in the fuel tank (only a little as there isn't a lot of fuel in it and as advised on the bottle a tipped a little in each carb while running and rev'd it through. I noticed the breather pipe from oil breather box to the air filter was off and split so i have replaced that with some generic hose. I have also ordered a new manifold / brake server rubber t-piece as this looks a little collapsed. Over the winter it had new leads, plugs, rotor, cap, oil, clutch, push rod tubes and seals.

Got in the van this morning, started on the button as it does every time, got 100 yards around the corner when i lost all power and eventual stalled, checked for anything obvious coming adrift, but nothing. Got it started and it was lumpy, shaking side to side on lo-revs. Managed to limp home on high-revs. Topped the petrol up from a jerry can just in case the red x mix was a little high, now it wont start at all.

I am thinking it must be fuel (i am no expert though), but where do i start?

Appreciate any advice, other than 'don't' put red x in : (
Thanks

[ermie571]

Following ideas from similarly related threads that I have read over the years....

connect the fuel pump inlet to a tbe that goes direct to your jerry can with nice clean petrol in it.....if it then runs its something to do with the tank side of the fuel pump

Push rod tube in the pump not effective and not enough petrol going through...

air/fuel mix wrong now you have changed air filter....(I put a new one in my water cooled and it wouldn't idle....the air filter was letting too much through for carb setting cos it was nice and clean...

does it smell of fuel in the engine bay...

coil broken down.....are you getting sparks.....

Em
xx

[maximillion]

Thanks ermie, a few things to try there!

Incidentally i popped home at lunch time, and thought i'd cracked it... fitted the new t-peice and found the rotor and dizy cap to be full of black dust and some strange wear marks. Reverted back to the old one, took it for spin around the block, and had to leave it around the block where it died again...

[Ralf85]

I had a type2 Aircooled. I had a similar problem. Turned out to be a faulty rotor arm. Check it/try an old one to see if there is a difference. With mine a tiny bit of the insulation had come away from the rotor causing it to short out and that was causing the problem not fuel. New rotor arm problem fixed. Good luck.

[Ralf85]

From what you have saind it sounds like you didn't push the rotor arm down properly so it has been chopping at the cap. You may nee to replace that as well. Good luck.

[maximillion]

Update!

Got it back home tonight, would not start but found a fuel hose being slightly pinched at the rear of the engine, free'd it and still wouldn't start... About to call recovery and suddenly it burst into life. Back on the drive and is running, but after a day on the web looks like my vac advance and retard lines are all wrong, I have no retard connection at all, the line that should go there is on the air box? But it's been like that since I bought it 18 months ago?

I am hoping that the pinched line had a blockage?

Keep you posted! Unless you have any other thoughts?

[ermie571]

a coil breaking down can have those symptoms...once warm packing up, cool down and it will start again. Until it gives up the ghost althogether!

(don't think that is your problem....just for your info!)

Hope the pinched fuel line improves matters....which leads me to the fuel filter....have you replaced that? Mine was bucking and prancing and shaking, losing power, gaining power.....changed the inline filter....and bingo....lovely drive again. Came on overnight as well. Beware, filthy ones can look clean....if its been on there a year or more, or you don't know when it was last changed, it could be the best £2 you have ever spent! (and if it doens't help, it hasn't cost you thousands...)

As a precaution, and a base line, you could compression test your engine. This will tell you whether the engine itself is healthy, ok, poorly, dying or knackered.

Em
xx

[maximillion]

Replaced the filter, and yes it was very dirty. Just got back in from an evening of tinkering and the more I look at it, there is clean metal where the fuel line was pinched, all the paint is worn so I am hoping it's that, had a blast around the block and all ok (so far!). Fingers crossed, going to drive it to work tomorrow so that will tell.

Thanks for all your advice, let your know how it goes!