1981 T25 1900 Keeps breaking down. (still! Help)

[Jonnysidewways]

additional.

There was power to the coil when we lost spark

Also the log book says its a 1600, and it was sold as a 1600, could it be a 1600 ??

[Asw]

1981 is very easy for a water cooled???... i thought diesel came in in 81 and petrol water cooled a bit later??????
as usual I look forward to being corrected

[ermie571]

additional.

There was power to the coil when we lost spark

Also the log book says its a 1600, and it was sold as a 1600, could it be a 1600 ??

No.... so you know...between your alternator and fuel pump there is a black plastic tower...under that tower lives your oil pump. anyway, at the base of the tower there is a fkat surface of metal (the engine block). on this metal will be stamped an engine number. If yours starts DG its a 1.9 engine. If its DJ its a 2.1 . if its CX or JX thats a 1600 diesel engine, the latter being a turbo diesel. (it won't be that as they are not flat four engines which is what you have got). The 1600 Aircooled is a CJ engine and the 2.0 litre air cooled is a CU code. Yours is deffo not Aircooled! There are other codes...but those are the most common.

Many owners drive the 2.1 injection engine on the 1.9 carb system...which can confuse folk !

Have you got metal vents or plastic ones

if log book says 1600 it has been changed to the 1.9...and that is a big change....all the coolant pipes, a radiator, and a second hole cut for the radiator in the front panel.

and for your information AJSImmo is a trader, and very knowledgeable

Em
xx

[bigherb]

That doesn't look like an 1981 engine bay either.

[Asw]

if you could post some more pictures of your van i'm sure people who know more than me could help solve the riddle.

[ajsimmo]

Thanks Em.
Well the answers are there in the pics. It's an early early cooling system with the metal cap on the more cuboid tank, and the early single piece main hoses across the back of the engine. It has correct early airbox and asymmetrical pancake for a DG of the year. All that seems to be wrong is the logbook.

[kevtherev]

it either started out as a 1600 Aircooled CT or it's nicked
I believe you can find out when alterations were made.

It's an early DG for sure.
As to your problem, it reads like a mixture issue.
pilot jet blockage, air leak on induction side.
That's if there's no problem when engine is cold.

[silverbullet]

Check and clean or renew all earth connections! Poor earth return = weak or no spark.
Same goes for poor cranking, which can pull down the voltage available at the coil, so whilst it might crank there may not be enough volts left for the coil to generate a meaningful spark under compression pressures.

[Jonnysidewways]

Dear all again, thanks for the advice. Ill look at the engine number later.

Not doubting anyones advise or knowledge btw the either, as you guys know soooo much more than me at this point, just puzzled as to why I bought a 1600 that possibly a 1900.

A friend of mine has since installed a Tic Tac ignition monitoring system, that shows when the ignition is love, and that the amplifier is pulsing, so that will help troubleshooting. The carb I'm sure would benefit from a clean, but don't think that's the issue, as its not spluttering to a stop, it just cuts out.



The first thing I did was fit a new, extra engine earth strap, so hopefully that's good.

And finally hope its no nicked.....

[Jonnysidewways]

Tada. Meet Wanda.

[ermie571]

oooo mystery deepens!!! Plastic vents....early vans 1980/81 are genaerally metal, so yours must be really one of the first water cooled!
also - that pic of your engine bay...the black plug is in the "wrong" (read unusual) place - its normally fixed to the wall of the engine bay next to the coil! This is your ignition control unit....make sure that has a good clean connection too...they are known to play up. I have a metal plate behind mine like yours..that the socket sits on and then the whole lot screws to the engine bay. Heat sink or earth, I have no idea!

while you are looking at engine number check the chassis number against the log book too. Chassis number should be on the A pillar on the drivers door I think. It is somewhere else..but can't remember where. Should be riveted on, not screwed...

Nice lookiing van xx

[a1winchester]

Apart from the mechanical / electrical issues, it will be worth you clarifying the engine size so that you can update your insurers. You don' t want to give them any excuse for not paying out if you make a claim

[Jonnysidewways]

[Jonnysidewways]

that pic of your engine bay...the black plug is in the "wrong" (read unusual) place - its normally fixed to the wall of the engine bay next to the coil!

That's by design, as we had to move the amplifier as my friend gave me a new distributer wiring loom from an opel Manta bosch dissy believe it or not, and that's the only place we could fit the amplifier to make it all reach without butchering the original wiring loom ;0)

Van was registered 28/01/1981 Engine number according to the log book is CT054641

Thanks for comments.

[kevtherev]

that pic of your engine bay...the black plug is in the "wrong" (read unusual) place - its normally fixed to the wall of the engine bay next to the coil!

That's by design, as we had to move the amplifier as my friend gave me a new distributer wiring loom from an opel Manta bosch dissy believe it or not, and that's the only place we could fit the amplifier to make it all reach without butchering the original wiring loom ;0)

Van was registered 28/01/1981 Engine number according to the log book is CT054641

Thanks for comments.

it either started out as a 1600 Aircooled CT .....

Ahem..

So the van was originally Aircooled and a far more powerful DG 1900 has been transplanted ito it.
I am not surprised.
It must have been quite an expensive and time consuming project.

Your pictures are of the block casting date and the part no.
The engine number is located beneath the oil breather tower