1990 2.1 petrol water cooled won't idle

[Muk]

Hi everyone. So I'm very new to this day 7 to be exact. I had my first breakdown and roadside recovery on the weekend. Bought my van to go on amazing climbing trips and now I'm starting to loose confidence in him My mechanic has managed to get him moving again (faulty wire) but he's not so great when idle, frequently stalls. I've read previous posts of people with similar probs. they were advised to look at their carburettor. I've been told mine doesn't have one.

Is your relationship with you van always this difficult in the beginning?

[Muk]

Ok so I've done some digging around and I think I know what's wrong. Also took it for another drive.
So it struggles when idle, it's now shuddering on acceleration and I've noticed the smell of fuel from the engine. I'm thinking it's miss firing, maybe a problem with the coil??? Or the wiring???

[ermie571]

Hi Muk,

welcome to the wonderful world of t25 ownership.

first off - if you have an unmolested 2.1 its going to be an injected model...hence why you have no carb.

so - the fuel is delivered to the engine by injectors...4 to be precise! These can need cleaning.

The spark is delivered by coil, leads, dizzy cap and rotor arm. These are fairly cheap SERVICE parts...and could cause the symptons you are describing. IF you don't know when it was last serviced...I would at least change the leads, plugs, cap and arm.....should be around £50-60 for all. Have a look at BRICKWERKS for your service parts...he has a damn fine reputation!

Changing the leads is one at a time, so you get them in the right place. basically replicate everything....don't just rip it all off and expect to remember how it went! Slowly and carefully....that is the way to go!

The 2.1 has alot of other electronic gadgetry as well...and on that I am no expert. But start with the basics.....it could be a cruddy fuel filter..and that is a £1 part! Start with the simple and work upwards....

oh - and keep the old parts.....cos if nothing changes...they are a workable spare!

Post back on here what you have done...and what the result was....

Good luck. prepare to be driven nuts.....

Em
xx

[AdrianC]

I've read previous posts of people with similar probs. they were advised to look at their carburettor. I've been told mine doesn't have one.

OK, without wanting to sound funny, are you willing and happy to go through a technical baptism of fire and get involved, or would you rather be hands-off? If the latter, then I hope your wallet's comfortably padded... If you're unsure of the difference between injection and a carb, it's likely to be a steep learning curve for you.

Basically, a carb is a bucket full of fuel, with a small hole in the bottom leading to a drainpipe through which the engine sucks. As air passes by the bucket, fuel's sucked through in about the right proportion.
Injection replaces the carb with electronic control of little squirts of pressurised fuel. Much more precise, much more complicated. That injection takes information from a range of sensors and inputs, and controls a few different things to make the engine run smoother and use less fuel.

A failure to idle, but running nicely, MIGHT be a fairly quick and easy adjustment to the throttle position switch (which tells the injection system when your foot's off the pedal completely) and a bit of cleaning to the idle valve (which adjusts the amount of air to the engine, so that it idles smoothly at the right speed). If it's not running nicely otherwise, then that's probably not it. It might be a pipe that's got nudged or an electrical plug that's loose. Or it might be wiring that's been damaged/bodged/corroded or an ECU that's dying.

Is your relationship with you van always this difficult in the beginning?

It all depends on why the previous owner was selling it. Maybe there was a problem that they couldn't fix for a sum they were comfortable with spending...

[dave lfc]

check your fuel filter is not blocked its just behind the drivers side front wheel just left of it about a foot away cheers dave

[Muk]

Thanks guys some useful pointers there for me to look at. No mechanical background but yes plan to get my hands dirty but do need guidance really. Would be nice if it was working for me a little though

[kevtherev]

Ok so I've done some digging around and I think I know what's wrong. Also took it for another drive.
So it struggles when idle, it's now shuddering on acceleration and I've noticed the smell of fuel from the engine. I'm thinking it's miss firing, maybe a problem with the coil??? Or the wiring???

Temp 2 sender is broke

[mark]

hello and welcome to the murky world of t25 2.1dj.............had the same issue when I bought mine or very similar started off spending a load of cash on bits I didn't need right away. mine was a mixture of temp 2 sender (five min job leaves you with a wet sleeve) and dirty electrical contacts, start at one side of the engine bay unplug and clean with contact cleaner and a tooth brush takes an hourish. strip the afm offof the air filter and give it a right good blast of contact cleaner. clean the air filter body and associated pipes and tubes with carb cleaner and replace the air filter.

if my owning one these flying machines has taught me anything its that if you don't keep up with servicing then they behave exactly yours. make a plan and get every service item up to date. they are fantastic motors when running right

mark

[bjdpend]

Ive got the same problem at the moment on my 87 2.1 automatic petrol, it will run ok for about 2 minutes, but if I keep my foot on the accelerator it will run fine, as soon as I take the foot of it will cut out. I have changed a lot of bits on it, a new fuel filter and pump,. I have also changed the HT leads, spark plugs, distribution cap, its got a new coil and amp. Have been told that there is a possibility that water might of got into the fuel, the fuel neck has been changed but doesn't look like its been sealed properly. Can any one help as im loosing faith with it.

Brian

[Muk]

Hey wish I could give you technical advice but right now I know nothing. I am going to wish you luck with it though and say keep the faith

[mark]

if you search stabilization on here, brick-yard and the samba you will find all you need, for a start you could try unplugging the idle stabiliser and plug the ends together ala setting the timing

mark

Ive got the same problem at the moment on my 87 2.1 automatic petrol, it will run ok for about 2 minutes, but if I keep my foot on the accelerator it will run fine, as soon as I take the foot of it will cut out. I have changed a lot of bits on it, a new fuel filter and pump,. I have also changed the HT leads, spark plugs, distribution cap, its got a new coil and amp. Have been told that there is a possibility that water might of got into the fuel, the fuel neck has been changed but doesn't look like its been sealed properly. Can any one help as im loosing faith with it.

Brian