It just won't start

[Shakepear]

Hi Got a 1985 T25 water cooled. Been serviced at Easter and had a new breather pipe fitted. But every time I go to start it when its been left for a while it won't start. I don't want to keep going to the garage for them to go through a long list of possibilities and charge for the works (not that rich) Does anyone know a good starting point to try and resolve the problem. Tried, new spark plugs and yes petrol was going to go with ignition leads, rotor arm and distribution cap. Will this help or just reduce the bank balance.
PS. will always start when been on a run and not left for days and will start with a squirt of magic spray into the air intake (can't keep doing that)

Any comments welcome

Thanks

[sarran1955]

Hello,

Engine type please.

Photo would be nice

Is it sparkly clean or cruddy,

When did you last look at the petrol filter,

In fact have you ever explored underneath

Cordialement

[Shakepear]

Hi
Transporter 78PS
The engine is 1.9 petrol, engine number DG075019

registered in May 1985

photo to follow but how will that help

Spark plugs new fitted by the garage less than 2 months ago and only done 90 miles since

Whats a petrol filter, where is it; is it easy to replace?

[Shakepear]

Hi again

Just read the manual and found the filter doesn't look too difficult to replace I will try in the morning, thanks

Other than that everything seems fine (to me) when it starts runs fine, but was starting to get a bit hot on the last run, just turned the heater on hot and full and problem went away.

[Shakepear]

Hi sarran1955

I have just checked I have a Transporter cavalier coachman too, I will get a photo over tomorrow

[sarran1955]

Hello,

How is it going..

Once you have fuel assured at the carb(s), then we can look at the ignition.

Its a 1 thing at a time job.

Still need photos!!

Cordialement

[Shakepear]

Hi

Photo attached, I have had a look at the fuel filter and it looks very clean but its fitted on an angle (not level) and is half full. Would this affect deliver of fuel when its been stood for a while

[T25Convert]

Hi,

If you don't know when it was changed last, change it anyway even if it looks clean. Its about £1.50, and at least you can rule that out then!

Some more information would be useful regarding the lack of starting:

1) When it won't start what does it do? Does it cough and splutter, does it start and die, does it just turn over and over and over with no sign it will ever start?

2) It starts with magic spray ((just googled it - it seems to basically be petrol in aerosol form?)) If you then turn it straight back off, does it then start again fine?

3) Once it is running, is it all nice and smooth, does it rev well, drive well, go at 65mph climb hills etc or does it have other running issues?

Given that it does start with some magic spray suggests you have a fuelling issue. I'd start with chainging the fuel filter, and the little brass filter in the carb (quick search on the forum for pierberg (spelling?) filter). If there is no improvement you can work through the rest logically. - let us know how it goes.

Cheers,

Alex

[Shakepear]

Hi Alex

When it won’t start it just turns over and over with no sign it will ever start and once it starts its fine and when its up and running its fine no problems. But I have noticed when in traffic the thermostat starts rising, just turn the heater on full and it goes down.

As an example, used the starting spry on Saturday to get it going, sprayed a squirt in to the air intake tried the engine, slight splutter repeated 4 more times each time the splutter got near to starting. Then on fifth attempt started, left it running for three minutes. Turned it off and tried again 5 mins later without any spray, started 1st time. Been to the lakes for the night no problems started 1st time all the time. Tried it now and its fine.

It appears to happen when its left for any length of time.

Checked the tarmac drive and no sign of leaks

[kevtherev]

OK I can think of a few..
Is the autochoke working?... does the flap close when it's cold?
remove the pancake duct and take a look at the flap.

There might be air leaking into the fuel pump and the fuel is falling back down the line, if the float bowl fuel evaporates, then it would be difficult to start
after it's been standing remove the outlet from the pump and crank the engine, tell us if fuel squirts out.

[billy739]

magic spray ?? would that be easy start?

[T25Convert]

There might be air leaking into the fuel pump and the fuel is falling back down the line, if the float bowl fuel evaporates, then it would be difficult to start after it's been standing remove the outlet from the pump and crank the engine, tell us if fuel squirts out.

Another way to check if there is fuel in the float bowl is to takle off the pancake airfilter (you'll have it off anyway to check the choke as Kev suggested above).

Gently push open the brass choke butterfly and peer down the throat. Have your willing accomplice press the acclerator right to the floor. You should see a little jet of fuel come out into the throat of the carb. Can't tell you where this would be exactly (I have the dreaed webber on mine, so all different). If you have a good squirt of fuel whne the throttle is pressed, its not fuel evaporating from the fuel bowl. These seems the likley probelm, as if the float chamber is full the van should fire up, and then die rather than not start.

Other thing that has occured to me, might not be an issue on the Pierburg (can others advise?) but the webber fuel cut off solenoid gets a bit sticky - its another design flaw i'm sure! Means that when its been sitting a while it gets lazy, sometimes it doesn't properly withdraw. Try checking for fuel in all the right paces as suggsted above, if no joy then maybe have a look at the cut-off solenoid.

Cheers,

Alex