Club 80-90 Forums

The van cut out 3 times today on a relatively short journey.
Last time this happened was 3 weeks ago. Since then, its been fine up until today.
It happens when Im just starting to slow down coming up to traffic lights, for example. Often it will happen when i put the autobox in reverse even. The revs dip low....and its gone. Sometimes I feel the revs drop slightly when I put the steering in full lock? It starts up again fine but I never know when its going to happen. Sometimes its completely OK!
I want to CRY!!!

No answers I'm afraid but I've just posted about my van cutting out at very Inopportune moments so can sympathise on how stressful it can be. They are lovely... But mine puts me through the mill on plenty of occassions!!! Hope someone can help diagnose your cutting out issue

Ps I also sympathise with the difficulty in finding a decent garage. I feel sorted now but it took a long time and was very stressful not knowing who to rely on when she broke down. Agree with everything said on the last thread though, stick with it, build a rappor and you can have a garage that do you favours an generally work with you which is great.

Hey thanks Hannarj, - sorry to hear of your problems too and hope they get sorted swiftly? Odd things t25s aren't they!?
Thanks for the understanding regarding garages too - I think building a rappor is definitely the way forward.

Many similar posts previously on here about these symptoms.
When it happened to me, it was a pin hole somewhere in the fuel line. A new line sorted it. Others have had problems with their fuel pumps.
Read the other threads and do the checks suggested.
Hopefully it can be sorted relatively easily.

Thanks a1winchester - I actually commented on that post as I had some work done on a fuel leak I had...I thought it'd solved the problem, but it seems not. I remember you saying you had a tiny hole in a fuel line and it solved the problem. I keep seeing posts recently with similar difficulties. Will read back through them, thanks .

I had similar cutting out issues a while back, mine were intermittant but getting worse, my van wouldn't tick over once at working temp, it was just drivable but would die as soon as the revs dipped. Turned out to be a faulty vacuum hose from the carb which was kindly replaced by a spare that a member on here had and sent through to me. I also had an ignition issue where there was a short at the fuse box which ment that the van wouldn't restart (very handy) managed to fix that so its running ok now. These vans keep you on your toes

I would search for possible cases for your engine and be methodical to find the fault, good luck and hope that you get it running ok again soon

I stumbled across another thread of yours re removing the Eber heater. In that thread there are references to petrol leaks and other petrol related issues.
Yours, being injection, needs to have all it's pumps and pipes in good order. I wouldn't mind betting there is a connection (other thread here)

1990 Caravelle? do you have power steering?
I think its normal for the revs to drop on full lock, I think there is a sensor that gives the engine a little extra fuel.
I dont have my Bentley with me, but to me this sounds like an idle stabilisation problem.

T

Really appreciate the input from everyone, thank you.
Yes, there has been problems with fuel leaks lately - thanks Ghost, there must be a connection with that - I'm thinking perhaps I should ask the garage to change the all fuel lines, (I've bought a new fuel filter), and look at the fuel pump? I was hoping that the VW place would have suggested I get them all changed, but they didn't and so I assumed they were OK.
Tony Tech - yes its a 1990 Caravelle with power steering, so Im glad you mentioned that its pretty normal to have the revs drop at full lock - at least that puts my mind at ease for that part!
Incidentally I drove the van on and off all day yesterday with no problems at all...so it is intermittent.
Thanks Ant - luckily mine always starts after its conked out..but yes, it certainly keeps me on my toes - theres always an element of suspense when I drive!!

it sounds like the Idle stablisation is faulty.... there is a black box a bit bigger than a box of matches just infront of the coil with two round plugs on one side, take the plugs out and connect them together see if it makes any difference
the power steering pump also has a connection on the end of the pipe which may need cleaning

It's not that one that controls idle under load, Steve. The pressure switch on the power steering pump is connected to the control unit behind RHS rear light, which controls the ISU or air bypass valve on top of engine to modulate idle speed compensation.
Quick workaround for now is to adjust the idle up a little by screwing out the big idle air screw on the throttle body by 1/4 -1/2 turn. Might just be enough to stop it stalling until it can be diagnosed and set up/fixed properly.

Good point by ajsimmo, adjust the idle speed for the moment.
What's your engine code? There are quite a few things that affect idle on fuel injection models, been through it recently
I'd check the idle stabilisation valve and the power steering switch as well. The ISV is operated by a small black module (idle control unit) that is hidden in the compartment behind your right taillight. If that is on its way out and doesn't operate the ISV correctly, the engine would cut out the way you described it. If the valve itself doesn't operate correctly (may be clogged, clean it), the same applies.
Of course, it might just as well be entirely unrelated to that and, as suggested by others, be a problem on with the fuel supply. Check hoses and filter.
Keep us posted, I'm sure we'll figure it out eventually.

Thanks so much everyone.
Hoping to get time this Friday on my day off work, to have a look at all the suggestions (I mean literally just look, as I don't actually know what Im doing!) At least to be able to locate some of the things people have suggested.
Thanks Olreti - I wonder how I find the engine code? As I have an oil leak, there is often a lot of residue oil in and around the engine - I try to clean it off every now and then and I did ask the garage about getting it steam cleaned but they seemed to be against that, suggesting that they didnt want to steam bits of the engine off!

So things to do would be :
Take metal covers off the HT leads
Adjust the idle - using little turn 1/4 - 1/2 turn
Check the Idle stabilisation valve (what does that entail doing?)
Check the power steering valve (need to locate that first!)
Get fuel filter fitted (Ive bought a new one)
Check power steering pump connection - clean it.

If all that fails maybe I should take it to garage and ask them to change fuel pump and filter?

The engine number is on a small flat rectangle below the black (breather) tower next to the distributor and facing the back of the van. If yours is a 2.1 it will have the prefix DJ, MV or SS then a few numbers.

Personally I would be buying either some WD40 or a similar contact cleaner and start cleaning the wiring connections. Also clean round the base of the tower as there is an O-ring there which often is the cause of oil on top of the engine.

Given the history of fuel-related bodgery I would be replacing the fuel lines, removing any junctions that are now superfluous ... and NOT at that garage that took the Eber out either. Is there no Club members that could pop round and sort these small (but potentially expensive if they realise you are a 'damsel in distress' ) garage jobs out for you ??

Ian

Hi Ian,
Thanks for your help with finding the engine number. Yes, I definitely need to clean contacts. I think my hesitation is that I don't know what to clean exactly. I suppose I could clean anything that I find! It can't do any damage can it? Unless I pull something out and can't get it back in So WD40 is ok to use? I have some.
Im not sure there are any club related members near to me. Although I saw a beeeyyooootiful Brown and cream Caravelle parked right near me the other day...I wonder if it belongs to anyone here? It was immaculate! That's not a hint - I genuinely did think it was amazing and wondered who's it was.

So..another job for Friday is to clean as much as possible. I contacted Brickwerks to ask if they had fuel line kit for a 2.1 but they didn't - I also emailed someone on eBay who was selling fuel line kits for VWs and again, they said they didn't but if I sent them sizes they could possibly make one up.