Pierburg 2e3 on a 1.9DG starting issue
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Stoptherot
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Pierburg 2e3 on a 1.9DG starting issue
First time post, looking for some advice on an engine issue which seems to be carb related.
My van has run brilliantly since a Bromyard carb rebuild 8 years ago. It’s only done around 4 thousand miles since, and never needed a tweak.
Now when I start from cold with a single press of the pedal to set fast idle it no longer kicks in at 2000, and I have to put some throttle on to get it started. Foot off the throttle and it chugs and dies.
I can hold it in the throttle while it warms up, then it’s fine.
I noticed the choke isn’t closing as I’d expect when setting the start position.
I think it’s not going on to the highest part of the cam, and so is running too lean initially. I’ve added some photos below.
Is that likely the issue here, and if so what could be the cause?
First photo is before I press the throttle to set the start position. This is where it is when you come to the engine after it was fully run up to temp and left.
Second is what it looks like after pressing the throttle pedal once.
Hasn’t moved much, and certainly isn’t nearly closed as I would expect.
Any ideas before I take the carb off and have a closer look?
Thanks to all. Doug
Before
https://photobucket.com/share/8e5c0d63- ... cabcf8a17c
After
https://photobucket.com/share/11077c35- ... 6849f6cf6d
Just an overview of the whole engine bay. https://photobucket.com/share/1e87347d- ... c9dbf02544
My van has run brilliantly since a Bromyard carb rebuild 8 years ago. It’s only done around 4 thousand miles since, and never needed a tweak.
Now when I start from cold with a single press of the pedal to set fast idle it no longer kicks in at 2000, and I have to put some throttle on to get it started. Foot off the throttle and it chugs and dies.
I can hold it in the throttle while it warms up, then it’s fine.
I noticed the choke isn’t closing as I’d expect when setting the start position.
I think it’s not going on to the highest part of the cam, and so is running too lean initially. I’ve added some photos below.
Is that likely the issue here, and if so what could be the cause?
First photo is before I press the throttle to set the start position. This is where it is when you come to the engine after it was fully run up to temp and left.
Second is what it looks like after pressing the throttle pedal once.
Hasn’t moved much, and certainly isn’t nearly closed as I would expect.
Any ideas before I take the carb off and have a closer look?
Thanks to all. Doug
Before
https://photobucket.com/share/8e5c0d63- ... cabcf8a17c
After
https://photobucket.com/share/11077c35- ... 6849f6cf6d
Just an overview of the whole engine bay. https://photobucket.com/share/1e87347d- ... c9dbf02544
Re: Pierburg 2e3 on a 1.9DG starting issue
Owners manual procedure...
Winter weather... Depress accelerator twice.
Mild weather with cold engine.... Once
Hot weather or with hot engine...depress pedal while turning starter.
Winter weather... Depress accelerator twice.
Mild weather with cold engine.... Once
Hot weather or with hot engine...depress pedal while turning starter.
MaxStu
1987 2.1 Automatic Carb/LPG Autosleeper.
"Blissfully happy in your presence".
1987 2.1 Automatic Carb/LPG Autosleeper.
"Blissfully happy in your presence".
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silverbullet
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Re: Pierburg 2e3 on a 1.9DG starting issue
Where did all the owners manuals go?
1985 Oettinger 3.2 Caravelle RHD syncro twin slider. SA Microbus bumpers, duplex winch system, ARC 7X15 period alloys
- Aidan
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Re: Pierburg 2e3 on a 1.9DG starting issue
since no one reads the manual, men especially, they got taken out of the glove box to make space and shoved in the old kitchen draw of "pooh", which became the draw of plastic bags, and then got thrown away when the kitchens got replaced
and some peeps realised you could sell them on Ebay in the early 2000s, nice little earner for teenager who was net savvy, and needed money for computer games, parents would never notice, Paypal meant you could sell and spend without anyone knowing
AIDAN 
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Stoptherot
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Re: Pierburg 2e3 on a 1.9DG starting issue
I have the manual.
https://photobucket.com/share/392e0a73- ... b574ddd024
Followed procedure as per.
Depress pedal when engine is cold.
I know it’s 30 degrees in the shade, but the engine is still cold.
Start engine.
Don’t press throttle.
Tap pedal briefly and revs will drop.
Used to happen perfectly. Even in summer.
Surely the choke shouldn’t be as wide open as it is now with a single pedal press, with a cold engine, even with the current temperature outside. This started before the heatwave.
https://photobucket.com/share/392e0a73- ... b574ddd024
Followed procedure as per.
Depress pedal when engine is cold.
I know it’s 30 degrees in the shade, but the engine is still cold.
Start engine.
Don’t press throttle.
Tap pedal briefly and revs will drop.
Used to happen perfectly. Even in summer.
Surely the choke shouldn’t be as wide open as it is now with a single pedal press, with a cold engine, even with the current temperature outside. This started before the heatwave.
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TwinTurbo
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Re: Pierburg 2e3 on a 1.9DG starting issue
should be fully open even at arround 20c Ambient , cooland temperature not that important.
TwinTurbo
1985 1.9 DG Caravelle Autohomes Karisma
1985 1.9 DG Caravelle Autohomes Karisma
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silverbullet
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Re: Pierburg 2e3 on a 1.9DG starting issue
Casting my mind back the the last time I had to repair a 2E3 for my own use, there is that white plastic cam/finger that is something to do with the fast idle. They do break off at the pivot eye, not immediately obvious but worth checking.
1985 Oettinger 3.2 Caravelle RHD syncro twin slider. SA Microbus bumpers, duplex winch system, ARC 7X15 period alloys
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TwinTurbo
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Re: Pierburg 2e3 on a 1.9DG starting issue
i would not be presetting the choke once temps are above 10-15c , just fire it up and fether the throttle for a moment.
if its sitill playing up in colder weather, spray degreaser on the springs around the stepped cam on the choke agitate but be careful to not dislodge the spings, flush with more degreaser and the lubricate with light machine oil ( not WD ).
If the spings are already dislodged then all sorts of trouble can ensue from crap idle to runnaway throotle.
if its sitill playing up in colder weather, spray degreaser on the springs around the stepped cam on the choke agitate but be careful to not dislodge the spings, flush with more degreaser and the lubricate with light machine oil ( not WD ).
If the spings are already dislodged then all sorts of trouble can ensue from crap idle to runnaway throotle.
TwinTurbo
1985 1.9 DG Caravelle Autohomes Karisma
1985 1.9 DG Caravelle Autohomes Karisma
- ajsimmo
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Re: Pierburg 2e3 on a 1.9DG starting issue
The choke flap should be much more closed than that, even at ambient temps of 20°+. Is it floppy free, or resistant when pressed with a finger? If floppy, probably the plastic relay arm has snapped. If resistant, cross shaft semi-seized?
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WBX Rebuilds & Upgrades from the beautiful Isle of Arran
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TONYT25T25
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Re: Pierburg 2e3 on a 1.9DG starting issue
Does it stall when driving and coming to stop at lights etc, mine has the same symptoms as yours i thought it had been resolved by cleaning the springs as mentioned above. Since bought a carb rebuilt kit which is yet to be done. Not sure if linked to my problem but I also replaced the filter near the petrol tank and removed the one in the engine bay.
1984 Campervan 1.9DG Petrol WBX
- jrt
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Re: Pierburg 2e3 on a 1.9DG starting issue
Have you checked for a vacuum leak?TONYT25T25 wrote: ↑27 Jun 2026, 11:19 Does it stall when driving and coming to stop at lights etc, mine has the same symptoms as yours i thought it had been resolved by cleaning the springs as mentioned above. Since bought a carb rebuilt kit which is yet to be done. Not sure if linked to my problem but I also replaced the filter near the petrol tank and removed the one in the engine bay.
David.
the future is unwritten
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Stoptherot
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Re: Pierburg 2e3 on a 1.9DG starting issue
Thanks for all the feedback and ideas.
Bit of an update.
I took the carb off to have a good look and a play, and it all seems normal. Nothing broken or missing. Hoses not holey or cracked and vacuum thingys all move when you suck on their hoses. Springs and shafts all in place and free moving. Inlet gauze filter nice and clean. So I can’t see the obvious culprit there.
But while checking vacuum hoses I found the vacuum advance isn’t working. At all. With a new hose on the advance unit and a good bit of vacuum from a hand pump doesn’t move the mechanism at all, and it won’t hold vacuum. It’s good to find something broken. Time will tell if it’s as simple as that.
So everything is back together and I’m waiting for a new vacuum diaphragm part from Brickwerks.
I’ll let you know the outcome as soon as it’s on.
In the meantime I’m feeling silly I didn’t notice it earlier. Because of course the revs change after you set the timing and reconnect the hose to the distributor because more air is getting in and leaning the mixture, and not because the unit is advancing the timing.
I’m supposed to be an engineer.
Will repost in a few days.
Thanks
Doug
Bit of an update.
I took the carb off to have a good look and a play, and it all seems normal. Nothing broken or missing. Hoses not holey or cracked and vacuum thingys all move when you suck on their hoses. Springs and shafts all in place and free moving. Inlet gauze filter nice and clean. So I can’t see the obvious culprit there.
But while checking vacuum hoses I found the vacuum advance isn’t working. At all. With a new hose on the advance unit and a good bit of vacuum from a hand pump doesn’t move the mechanism at all, and it won’t hold vacuum. It’s good to find something broken. Time will tell if it’s as simple as that.
So everything is back together and I’m waiting for a new vacuum diaphragm part from Brickwerks.
I’ll let you know the outcome as soon as it’s on.
In the meantime I’m feeling silly I didn’t notice it earlier. Because of course the revs change after you set the timing and reconnect the hose to the distributor because more air is getting in and leaning the mixture, and not because the unit is advancing the timing.
I’m supposed to be an engineer.
Will repost in a few days.
Thanks
Doug
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silverbullet
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Re: Pierburg 2e3 on a 1.9DG starting issue
Thats the fault. You've got a vacuum leak which then effectively disables anything which requires vacuum: spark advance, carb pulldown unit etc.
Often overlooked.
Often overlooked.
1985 Oettinger 3.2 Caravelle RHD syncro twin slider. SA Microbus bumpers, duplex winch system, ARC 7X15 period alloys
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TONYT25T25
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Re: Pierburg 2e3 on a 1.9DG starting issue
Thanks David, next check amongst others.jrt wrote: ↑27 Jun 2026, 13:39Have you checked for a vacuum leak?TONYT25T25 wrote: ↑27 Jun 2026, 11:19 Does it stall when driving and coming to stop at lights etc, mine has the same symptoms as yours i thought it had been resolved by cleaning the springs as mentioned above. Since bought a carb rebuilt kit which is yet to be done. Not sure if linked to my problem but I also replaced the filter near the petrol tank and removed the one in the engine bay.
David.
1984 Campervan 1.9DG Petrol WBX
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TwinTurbo
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Re: Pierburg 2e3 on a 1.9DG starting issue
its sunday if you still dont have the unit, block the pipe and see if starting improves
TwinTurbo
1985 1.9 DG Caravelle Autohomes Karisma
1985 1.9 DG Caravelle Autohomes Karisma