Intermittent Engine Stuttering

[Birdman]

Hi,

I have an 88 hightop Autosleeper 1.9 petrol, which I bought 6 months ago. I noticed not long into ownership, that that the fuel gauge was wildly innacurate eg. not staying at the same mark during driving.

The other day the van started stuttering in traffic, losing power intermittently and cutting out. The gauge was reading roughly 1/4 full, but I assumed it was possibly low on fuel and filled up. The symptoms resolved thereafter and I assumed all was good.

We then went away for our first trip away in it, with no problems whatsoever on the journey down. On the way back I decided to top the fuel tank up to full, to have peace of mind I wouldn't run out because of the guage. After filling up we carried on home and stopped off shortly after for a coffee. After the stop and then resuming the journey, I experienced the same stuttering as before, but managed to keep the van moving. After less than a mile, it completely resolved and we got home without incident.

Can anyone advise me what might be going on and should I be worried?!!!

[The Bishop]

Dirty fuel filters? Try changing them, cheap and quick to do.

Failing that could be fuel pump?

[California Dreamin]

Metal Spark plug caps arcing out. (they can be cut off with a good pair of side cutting pliers without any detriment to the vans running...these are purely shrouds to reduced radio interference) worth trying first as it doesn't cost anything and can be left without.

Martin

[ajsimmo]

Also had vans do this when water gets into fuel tank. Usually caused by split rubber on filler neck or breather pipe loose/detached on top of the tank. Perhaps try Wynn's Dryfuel or similar added to tank. If it solves running issues, find and fix water ingress point.

[CovKid]

I think Martin may be close with spark plug caps. Could well be. I had this for quite a while and it turned out to be an ignition lead breaking down which would be virtually identical really - you suddenly drop to 3 cylinders. Centre lead - could be that. Foxed me too for a while.

[T25Convert]

Hi,

As suggested by The Bishop could well be fuel pump - I had the same issues of intermittent stuttering for a while, finally tracked it back to the fuel pump which was delivering insufficient fuel at idle (due to low pump rate at low engine speeds) and flat out (as pump couldn't keep up with demand).

If you pop the fuel pump off measure the push rod beneath (should be 100 mm exactly and NO less). Take the fuel outlet off and operate the pump lever with your thumb - a good splurge of fuel should come out some distance (be careful where this goes - on hot exhaust is a bad place!) Check also that the pump operating lever is still a snug fit on its pivot as they can wear here.

In terms of being wildly inaccurate, if its anything like mine it will show fuel level increase/decreases when you do things like stop / start / go round corners / go up or downhill. I've learnt that a glance at the gauge is not enough, you need to watch it for a while and take an average position once you've been on the straight and flat for a while!! Can be easier to track mileage - i.e. do X miles and then refill!

Good luck with it,

Cheers

Alex

[kevtherev]

Also had vans do this when water gets into fuel tank. Usually caused by split rubber on filler neck or breather pipe loose/detached on top of the tank. Perhaps try Wynn's Dryfuel or similar added to tank. If it solves running issues, find and fix water ingress point.

........Is what caused mine.

[Birdman]

Many kind thanks to you all for the replies.