Club 80-90 Forums

Hi, I'd like opinions on this issue if you could please.

One day, van drives great, as normal, no issues.

Day after, just a couple of minutes into the journey, stutters/stumbles on acceleration and dies. Would start again and idle but on pressing the pedal (just at a stand still) to rev it, in just 1-2 seconds it will stumble and die. It's not random or intermittant, I can make it happen everytime I rev it. Each time it will start up and idle, I can rev it a little and the engine will pick up but it is stuttery and pops on the left hand side, but rev any higher and it dies.

At the roadside I changed the coil, dizzy cap, rotor arm, king lead, blew out the idle jet, all made no difference. I also took the fuel inlet pipe off the carb to check for fuel delivery, and I got a quarter cup full in a few seconds. No water in the fuel and the filter(s) at the tank are clean and quite new too. I was able to stutter/limp home. So I was thinking perhaps main/primary carb jet blockage, for it to idle but not accelerate, couldn't think what else it could be?

Choke operation is ok and as said before fuel seems ok.

Couple of days later after 'messing' with it, but not actually fixing anything, it started up ok, and would accelerate/run as normal. So I went for a local test drive. After about 20 minutes this time, it stumbled and cut out whilst in 4th gear. I was able to start it and carry on, so I turned around to come home and it kept doing it. But then on restarting it after a few times it wouldn't idle either. It would start and I could sort of keep it running by revving every second or so, but it was stuttery, popping, and would die quickly on idle. So I had to be recovered this time.

Today at home it wouldn't start still, would try, stutter and fail. So again I 'messed' with it, checking fuel delivery, look inside the carb, blew out the idle jet. Not particularly doing anything constructive, but then it did start up and will run as normal, idles and revs as it always has. Can't chance another drive as I'm afraid it will happen again.

My next step is to take the carb apart and check for crud, nothing is apparent with a visual check on the van. But opinions on anything else I could check first would be appreciated to rule easy things out. Thanks.

1985 T25 1.9 DG - Pierburg 2E carb.

Have you replaced the ignition amp’ at any time? I had similar problems a few years ago and replaced mine to get it running again. I did the accelerator pump diaphragm at the same time as it was perishing.
David.

Thank you David, I haven't looked at the ignition amp at all, based on what you said I have had a search on it on here and found lots of info, seems that a lot of owners keep a spare so that may be worthwhile. From what I have read I don't think it will be the root of my issue, but I'll certainly look into it, thanks again.

Test all spark plug leads using OHM's setting on a multimeter. There is a range in the service manual.

Whs^^ plus don’t forget to give them a bend as you do it. Mine were in spec until I bent them.
David.

Thanks a lot for the replies and suggestions, certainly something to keep in mind. I am hoping that I've solved it, after cutting out again on another test drive, at the roadside I took the idle jet out again and blew through it which I've done before, but this time I also took a nylon strand off a brush out of the van and poked it through several times too. When I put it back on the van started straight away and was fine for a further hour and back home. A couple of days later I went for a drive again and it was great again. So, here's hoping! Thanks again.