Loss of power again!!

[SamsBus2012]

Had this problem last year but after lots of fiddling I thought it had gone away again, but today back again with a vengeance!

1986 DG with pierburg. Have a look at the link.
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 71&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Over the past two years the van has had new fuel filters, new plugs, leads, rotor arm, cap, coil, ignition unit, fuel pump (including push rod).
Has been running really well including long run around cornwall last weekend.
Today after about 25mins of really good running he started backfiring again then here we go again, loss of power, need to rev the nuts off to pull away, kangarooing and spectacular backfiring etc etc.
Nearly did a basil fawlty in the middle of the road. A bit reluctant to strip the carb myself as I am worried about setting up again after so anyone know of a good t25 mechanic in the Ivybridge/Plymouth area who can have a look before I take a large hammer to him and go an buy caravan!!!

[SamsBus2012]

Just read all the posts on this really good thread -

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... erburg+2e3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Start working through the list

[NicBeeee]

Hi,

There is no mention of giving your carb a blow out in your previous thread, worth a shot if you can gain access to some pressurized air, particularly blow down the float chamber (guauged covered bit top left of carb seen after removing the pancake cover) as sometimes a build up of muck can create an intermitent fuel starvation, oh and cover your eyes when you blow down there as fuel can splosh in your face if doing this helps then you will need to remove the carb to give it a clean and remove any residue as it will settle back down and block the hole again. No need to worry about resetting the carb as long as you dont touch any of the mixing screws, purchase a gasket for around a fiver as they can get damaged when you split the carb. There are more experienced people on here that will give you advice regarding the pierburg 2E3 that will be around soon

[ghost123uk]

loss of power, need to rev the nuts off to pull away, kangarooing and spectacular backfiring etc etc.

Those symptoms, to me, point more to an ignition fault and/or intake air leak.

I know you have replaced most of the ignition components, but kangarooing and backfiring indicate intermittent regularity of sparks (imho). Could be as simple as a bad connection on any of the ign related wiring, suggest check that first as it's simple and cheap to do.

Can you remember what you changed last time that appeared to fix it ?

[SamsBus2012]

loss of power, need to rev the nuts off to pull away, kangarooing and spectacular backfiring etc etc.

Those symptoms, to me, point more to an ignition fault and/or intake air leak.

I know you have replaced most of the ignition components, but kangarooing and backfiring indicate intermittent regularity of sparks (imho). Could be as simple as a bad connection on any of the ign related wiring, suggest check that first as it's simple and cheap to do.

Can you remember what you changed last time that appeared to fix it ?

I changed the ignition control unit last so I'll check all the connections there. I am also off to halfords this morning to get some carb cleaner so i can check the vacuum hoses. In my naivity, I checked previously by looking only - they looked fine but I didnt do the carb cleaner test - potentially a cheap fix too to renew all these if this proves to be an issue.

Whilst writing, does anyone know what the sensor just to the left of the crank pully is? The wire to this had become loose and had shorted out on the exhaust manifold. I have spliced in a bit of wire to fix - probably unrelated.

[ghost123uk]

Whilst writing, does anyone know what the sensor just to the left of the crank pully is? The wire to this had become loose and had shorted out on the exhaust manifold. I have spliced in a bit of wire to fix - probably unrelated.

That will be the high pressure oil sensor. (there is another, low pressure one under the left hand side push rod tubes) so unrelated. But, when the wire was damaged you should have been getting a false alarm from your oil pressure warning buzzer ?

By the way, there seems to be some discussion on here about even new parts being/going faulty. So don't assume that the recently fitted ignition module is not the culprit Common practice here is to borrow another "known good" part off another van and see if it fixes it, then go and buy one.

[ghost123uk]

p.s. just re-read your words and you say the wire from the sensor had shorted out onto the exhaust. Shorting that wire to earth may be why you got no warning buzzer. Earthing that wire is a bodge some folk use to stop the buzzer sounding (only if it is giving false alarms of course )

[SamsBus2012]

Thanks for that - really useful comments. Oil light does go out after starting as it should so I am assuming OK. The ignition unit was a new Febi but I have also got a 2nd hand one so will try a swap over to see if it makes a difference. I am erring toward a fuel/air problem though as he started fine till warmed up yesterday then lost all the go. Today, starts but wont tick over. If you feather the throttle he runs fine(without load). Just got some wynns car cleaner from Halfords so will start investigating.
Cheers for now.

[SamsBus2012]

Unforunately, the carb cleaner/vacuum hose test proved inconclusive as it is proving virtually impossible to hold the van at a steady tickover without constantly feathering the throttle.
Checked fuel flow from pump seems OK (new pump anyway). Took out cone filter and thoroughly cleaned with carb cleaner but all to no effect. If I crank up the fast idle screw the van will tick over from starting for about a minute before dying.
Next job will be buy some gaskets, take off the carb and clean thoroughly, blow through etc, I'm going to get some vaccum tube from brickwerks and replace anyway as relatively inexpensive.

[SamsBus2012]

Latest update...
Got an afternoon pass so popped ghe carb off and gave it a really good clean with carb cleaner. Next opened up the float chamber and set to work blowing through every hole, jet etc I could find with csrb cleaner and a compressed Air can I got in maplin. Spent alot if time and care with this. Left to dry in the afternoon sun while a cup of tea and sandwich were consumed. Reassembly with new gasket followed. Replace ALL vacuum pipes at the same time with new purchased from Brickwerks. All put back together then after a few cranks to reprime the float chamber he fired up. Left to run on choke then that shut off and van stayed on tickover - if a bit lumpy. Left the van to run and he seemed to settle down. Switched off after 10 minutes. Left for 2 minutes then restarted with no problem. Squirted carb cleaner around vacuum unions and gaskets - no effect so things looking good. Left the van for an hour while kids put to bed then took it for a run - as soon as load applied problems reapeared! No power jnless liads of revs etc etc. No where near as bad but still very poor. I guees next step will be to look at electrics again, fed up and back in doors now for a beer,

[NicBeeee]

and a compressed Air can I got in maplin.

Not sure what pressure is in these cans but I would imagine HSE wouldn`t allow anything decent, when I removed our carb I had to blow 100 psi down the jets to clear them, if you take the carb off and take it to a friendly local garage I am sure one of the mechanics would be happy to give it a blast for some beer money, I would and I have done in the past

[dodec42]

I had similar issues with my 1.9 GW, trouble is there are so many potential causes that it's a matter of elimination....after going through the usual culprits as you've mentioned, fuel lines, filters, pumps, vaccum hosese, ignition system etc etc....I took it to Phil Davies in Stonehouse, Plymouth. They did a great job of fettling the engine back to full power, which turned out to be a number of issues, flow meter, timing, injectors seals and injectors as well as crud from the tank. So if you're looking for someone in this area i'd recommend them.

[MattBW]

We've just had this with the 1.9dg too, did 850+ miles without a problem last week around Cornwall. Day after getting back, started her up and running badly and no power. Still not got to the bottom of it but I'm sure we will.

[kevtherev]

is the coil getting hot?

[MattBW]

Ours has magically gone away today. Changed a few vacuum hoses nothing more so will check the plug gaps and HT leads etc