Club 80-90 Forums

Hello everyone happy easter!
Hope everyone is well
I have been in and out of this forum over the last year with my 1986 1.9dg tin top panel van and the advice is always spot on!! So thanks in advance right my van just plain old won't start:( I have had a few mechanics half arsed meddle with it and now I am hours behind!!

Brief history of van
Bought as a running project in June but it would only run with a jump pack aswell as battery and would immediately cut out unless accelerator was fully down then neededcto keep high revs or it would die

Advised to change battery and did
First mechanic cleaned carb (worried now as learnt a bit about thrse and very specialist Job)
Then told by second mechanic dizzy at fault (to big gaps??)
Fitted new dizzy and plugs and leads and coil still no start
Then repeat trying to start flooded engine huge backfires flooded sparkplug s petrol in exhaust
Then told by third mechanic timing will be out
I used the wiki (kev the Rev) and got tdc on piston 1 and on pulley wheel and rotor arm pointing to right lead now van just coughs splutters and bangs no start I put new plugs in again but battery keeps running flat and no start
Just wish I never let first mechanic touch it and used specialist any advice gratefully recieved!?
Thanks again enjoy your eggs

Check the firing order. Easy to get the leads swapped. Cylinders are not numbered same as an inline, but all VW flat 4 the same.
Could well be an air leak if it wont idle, anything from servo hose to inlet manifold gaskets, vac hoses on carb/dizzy etc.
Might be vac unit on dizzy failed too.

Give batt a good charge, 12 hours minimum


check the earth on left hand head and under coil, my engine was misfiring /backfiring badly on friday and it was the head connection

Check the connection to the air cut off valve large cylinder on carb with electrical connection as you look at it, it should be 12v with ignition on.

sometimes a picture or three helps us spot something

Yes pictures needed.
From above, so we can see all the leads and carb wiring.

Yup indeed your right pictures will be uploaded tomorrow thanks guys just very quickly though I sure it will be on the wiki but how do I check battery I don't have another donor one and my brother said he would lend me his multimeter but haven't a clue how to test coil and ignition amp??? Thanks for all comments and advice

Test coil
http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/b ... g/tag/t25/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Start by just checking battery voltage
this gives you an idea of voltage vs charge, needs to be left after charging for a couple of hours min before measuring

http://www.energymatters.com.au/compone ... discharge/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You mention bought as a running project. I have to say, with something I didn't know the history of, I'd be doing a compression check before anything else (even those suggestions above) - then if that checks out, work my way through until the fault is found. If electrics seem fine and static timing close enough, you'll need to check that the carb is actually getting sufficient fuel, then eliminate the possibilities one by one.

Thanks everyone. Gonna have another look tomorrow Covkid how can I do compression check or vw specialist Job??

Every budding mechanic needs one...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GUNSON-Engine ... 519f3306be" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

timing may be way out, vac unit may be broken, all can be checked with this...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Timestrobe-Xe ... 43a50e9281" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You can get compression guages for less than £30 though, plus if you ask around enough, someone will have one they'll lend you.

Actually, accurate or at least high compression readings mean less than getting a proper sense of how imbalanced they might be over all four. If its low all round, well, its low all round, but one or two that give very low compression definately needs attention.